File:Early Medieval Die Stamp (FindID 999786-1098683).jpg

The die stamp is sub-rectangular in form and cross-section. Both sides are flat, one of which is decorated with an interlace Style II or Schlaufenornamentik decoration without zoomorphic elements. The interlacing asymmetric and twisting pattern gives the design a writhing quality, but it lacks any zoomorphic elements such as a head or limbs which means that this design is not strictly Style II. Concurrent with the development of Style II in the late 6th and early 7th centuries, another type of interlace - irregular and non-Roman in style, was developed, which could also include zoomorphic elements, termed Schlaufenornamentik (loop ornament) (Speake 2019, 245).

Each thread of the interwoven pattern carries a central panel of sub-circular and/or lozenge granules or beads which are framed by linear grooves, perhaps imitating filigree design of beaded wire. The lozenge, angular 'beads' perhaps represent a faux spiral-beaded wire produced by beading at an oblique angle. The sinuous, interlacing pattern is surrounded by rectangular beaded border - again perhaps replicating a beaded wire pattern. Looking at the image, in the top right corner is a circular granule. No zoomorphic element, other than the sinuous, writhing animal-looking body, can be determined. The granule may represent an eye, but no angular head as to be expected in Style II is decipherable. 

The decorated face shows damage across the entire face but is more worn on the upper right side.

The reverse side is flat and undecorated, bar six, short, incised grooves along the shortest edge on the right and four incised grooves located off centre along the widest side. The patina indicates that these marks were made in antiquity. Two circular indentations or (rivets?) sit parallel. The presence of rivets would indicate that this piece represents a mount rather than a die stamp. It is possible that this piece is simply missing its gilding and would have ornamented a leather strap mount, but there is no evidence for the rivets passing through - the decorated surface has no circular rivet heads. The 'die stamp' from East Layton (<a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/493755">DUR-0850C3</a>) also demonstrates similar circular features - but the circular indentations are closer together on the East Layton example. It is possible that this object is heavily worn and it may have had rivets/rivet holes (for attachment to leather strap) on either side of the rectangular frame which is now broken off. Other objects recorded as 'die stamps' could very well be buckle plates e.g. <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/196070">IOW-3AB946</a> which show three perforations along the left edge (as looking at the image) parallels the buckle plate from Alfriston, Grave 21 (Marzinzik 2003, 408, plate 86, type 11.15a, no. 3). The etched lines on the reverse of LIN-490483 are unusual and no parallels can be drawn. If it is, in fact, a die stamp - perhaps these lines represent the number of times it has been used to punch a design onto gold and silver foil. 

Dies are generally cast copper-alloy of 3-4 mm in thickness (Speake 2019,146). Although, die stamps recorded on the PAS database range from 1.5-5 mm. This example from Whittington is just over the average thickness measuring about 5 mm.

The Whittington die stamp was found relatively close to a gold sheet decorated with filigree pattern (<a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/996981">LIN-65530D</a>) which might represent casual losses. It is also possible that these two items were from a dispersed hoard. The Staffordshire Hoard was found within c.12 km of this findspot area and it is possible <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/996981">LIN-65530D</a> and LIN-490483, along with other high-status pieces found within this area, form part of the story of the Staffordshire Hoard.

Die stamps on the PAS database

There is an increasing body of so-called die stamps carrying a variety of designs of late 6th to 7th-century date including Style II zoomorphic designs include one from Morningthorpe and Fritton, Norfolk (NMS-E0AC06), from Roxwell, Essex (ESS-2E87D4), from West Clandon, Surrey <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/160963">SUR-C7A354</a> and one from Thwing, East Riding of Yorkshire (<a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/538746">DUR-3C5813</a>), an unidentifiable motif from Bardsey cum Rigton (SWYOR-AA1E85), interlace ornament from Blyton, Lincs. (NLM-11E7C5), Boxford, W. Berkshire (BERK-8CE912), from Droxford, Hampshire (<a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/185643">HAMP-BAA204</a>) and from the Isle of Wight (<a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/196070">IOW-3AB946</a>), a Style II beaked head from Walcot Near Folkinham (<a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/627536">LIN-3A7E52</a>) and from Chillerton and Gatcombe, Isle of Wight (<a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/437713">NARC-EE9CC3</a>), a horned weapon-bearing figure from Crawley, Hampshire <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/551446">HAMP-B292C2</a>, a three-rivet triangular buckle plate from East Layton, N. Yorkshire (DUR-0850C3), cross from Boxford, W. Berkshire <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/448339">BERK-8E4641</a>, a shape-shifting wolf-human from Fen Drayton, Norfolk (<a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/133560">NLM-468D41</a>)

References cited

Marzinzik, S., 2003. Early Anglo-Saxon belt buckles (late fifth to early eighth centuries AD): their classification and context. BAR British Series 357. 

Speake, G. 2019 Die-impression on sheet and foil in Fern, C., Dickinson, T., and Webster, L. (eds.) The Staffordshire Hoard. An Anglo-Saxon Treasure. Research Report of the Society of Antiquaries of London no. 80, p.146-148.