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

Circular, over 3/4” (0.83”) diameter.  White metal, probably a tin-lead pewter alloy.  The front with radial motif forming a cross with the negative space as a saltire. Banded edge.  The top with a flared thickened end tubular bail, defective.  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 specific to the life and achievements of the saint. Pilgrims wore them strung as necklaces, on hats or attached to the clothing.