A man who was searching with a metal detector in Carew Community, in the Pembrokeshire county, Wales, he thought he found a coin. However, to his surprise, she discovered a historical treasure.
The discovery took place in November 2020, but was only made public in March of this year, through a press release issued by the Museum of Wales. Robert Edwards, who was accompanied by his cousin during the exploration, decided to change the settings on his metal detector, allowing him to detect a “silver” object under an oak tree. He initially thought it was a coin, but it turned out to be a post-medieval thimble.
The item was declared a “treasure” by Her Majesty’s Acting Chief Coroner for Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. It was subsequently handed over to the finds coordinator of the Portable Antiquities Program in Wales and sent to experts at the National Museum in Cardiff for identification and study.
The post-medieval thimble It is considered special due to its exceptional quality and durability. Furthermore, its meticulous and skillful construction, with two pieces and an ornate incised brick or basket-weave design, reveals the cultural and artistic context of the time.
At its base was found an inscription in serif Roman capitals that reads “*LYKE STIL AND LOVE EVER”, which translates as “As everlastingly, love forever”. This phrase evokes a sense of romanticism and devotion common in the literature and poetry of the time.
According to the report from the Museum of Wales, it has been observed that Similar inscriptions, known as ‘Posy’, are common on 17th-century silver thimbles in England and Wales. These objects were considered an intimate and romantic possession, and were often exchanged as gifts between lovers.
