ENGLISH CHRISTIAN PILGRIM’S BADGE, 14TH-15TH CENTURY AD

Circular, about 7/8” (0.87”) diameter.  White metal, probably a tin-lead pewter alloy.  Broad radially reed edge enclosing a pierced cross with beams flaring from the center as with the Maltese Cross. Raised central nub, possible a reference to the earlier pagan Wheel of Fortune. Both sides identical. The top with a flared thickened end nub for sewing to a garment, usually a hat, to advertise the wearer’s journey of faith. These were produced in the Holy Land for pilgrims who wore them at home as prestige symbols. They were sold at shrines of saints where holy relics of the saints, sometimes, the whole corpus were preserved. The symbols are often specific to the life and achievements of the saint. Excellent preservation.