This Roman copper coin was made of small every day purchases. It´s monetary value was small and they were minted in huge quantities. These coins exists today still in large quantities so the coin is not rare at all. So I could make it in to a ring without feeling too sorry for its destiny. Coin is not soldered in place and it can be released by just turning its holding claws outwards.
Burial 6 in Kaukola Kekomäki had remains of a choker. It was made of strip of birch bark covered with linen fabric. Fabric had sewn on gilded silver plates with palmette decorations. Choker had also square silver charm hanging from center.
These plates that measure slightly larger than square centimeter have been made of 0,3mm sterling silver sheet. For die pressing I made a tool from 3 sheets of cut out bronze soldered to a sandwich. I did not have access to proper pressing tool, so Teppo Nousiainen did the pressing work. To press sterling silver sheet into bronze mold it is necessary to use something softer than silver as filler between silver and press. Small pieces of lead were used this time. It would have been possible to use rubber or polyurethane instead. It is possible to make lots of silver plates with tool I made, but mold will of course become rounder during the process.
I hope to be able to gild these like some of the originals were.
At last moment I decided to go to Helsinki and visit Pukkisaari Iron Age market. I had a change to do some shopping in our capital and on Saturday go to Pukkisaari isle. Local Iron Age interest group has built several log buildings to this small island. Buildings surround a yard and large fireplace where food is made for participants. Sellers come from Finland and neighboring countries. It was interesting to compare different costumes and styles between countries.
I bought wool yarn, glass beads and Baltic brooches. Helsinki was still full of tourists and visitors from Europe and Japan were numerous in the market. It was funny to observe their reactions. Next time I might stay for a night in the camp. Then I will have more time to talk with other Iron Age minded
I had dreamed about primitive archery for years. I hope to build an arrow someday. I was ready to sign up for archery workshop right away, when I saw first ads of it. Rainy weather made organizers almost to cancel the lessons, but their new canopy saved the situation. We had a chance to test longbows and recurve bows. Our teachers (even literally) threw at us new and new challenges. Finally we had to aim to flying discs!
On Saturday I participated to Viburg road market. This time the theme was armies. There were all kinds of old fashioned troops from Viking age until World War II. Soldiers had flint lock pistols, swords and even real cannon that was shot several times. It was very loud!
Soldier had their wives with them. So I had great change to investigate female costumes from different time periods.