Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)

Thin, circular pilgrim badge, possibly from Rome. The badge is decorated with a design of a circle enclosing an Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) with a banner. This circle is surrounded by flower-like device of six petals. There is an inscription around the outside edge: ‘Agne [D]ei misere mei qui crim[ina mundi tollis]’ (meaning' Lamb of God, have mercy on me, who takes away the sins of the world'). Copper alloy plaques of the Agnus Dei have been found enclosed in pendants with a vernicle on the other side. A vernicle is a souvenir of the Veronica in Rome (the Veronica was the veil of St Veronica, which was miraculously imprinted with Christ’s face). It is possible that this plaque is part of one of these pilgrim souvenirs from Rome.