By Keri Murrell
These round shale discs, first noted by Rev. Hutchins in 1768, were used as fuel but their original purpose sparked debate. Some believed they were ancient imitation money linked to Phoenicians from the Mediterranean, while others argued they were waste from production of stone bracelets or bands – armlets worn on the upper arm. Evidence from Roman cemeteries and lathe marks supported the latter. Production involved shaping the shale on a foot-powered lathe, carving grooves with flint or iron tools, and extracting two armlets from each disc. The remaining central piece – being what was mistaken for “coal money” being just a by-product.
