A gold pendant of a pseudo-Byzantine solidus coin discovered by a metal detectorist in Thaxted, Essex, is shedding new light on the presence of a wealthy elite in early medieval Essex.The gold coin is an imitation of a known issue by Emperor Justin II (r. 565-578 A.D.). The obverse features a portrait of the helmeted and cuirassed emperor facing forward, holding Victory standing on a globe in his right hand and shield in his left. The inscription reads DN IVSTI-NVS PP AVG which stands for Dominus Noster Justinus Perpetuus Augustus. The reverse has a personification of Constantinopolis seated holding scepter and cross on globe. The inscription reads VICTORI-A AVGGG, meaning Victoria Augustorum (the Victory of Three Emperors), with the mintmark CONOB (ie, the Constantinople mint).Rough imitations of original imperial Roman and Byzantine gold coins were minted by early medieval kingdoms of the European mainland as an attempt to cadge some of the imperial authority and prestige represented by gold coins that were by then very rarely circulating in the Germanic territories. Examples of pseudo-imperial solidi minted by Anglo-Saxon, Frankish, Lombardic, Burgundian, Visigothic and Ostrogothic rulers have been found in Britain, more of them in pendant form than as unmodified coins.The placement of the suspension loop soldered above the middle of Justin IIs head indicates the coin was meant to be worn with the obverse portrait facing outwards because the reverses die axis is at the 5 oclock position, not noon. The significant wear on the reverse confirms that it was the side against the skin. The style of the loop with five longitudinal ribs is typical of pendants produced in the late 6th and early 7th century.Historian Lori Rogerson said it was one of a number of recent finds which were flipping what we thought we knew about Essex at this time on its head.Because in this period we have no written record for the county, it really is in the dark for people working in archaeology and heritage so this find literally shines a light on that time, the county finds liaison officer added. []Similar objects from the 6th and 7th Century are rare finds in Essex, unlike in Kent, Suffolk or Norfolk, she said.The gold is really high quality and it is an elite object, but we dont get these high status objects found through commercial archaeology, so if this hadnt been found, wed have had no idea there were these elite groups of people in this area at this time, she explained.The pendant has been declared treasure and will now be assessed by a valuation committee. A local museum will be given the opportunity to acquire for the assessed value. The Saffron Walden Museum is hoping to acquire it.