Description
The Martyr, the Mould, and the Merchandise
In 1170, the bloody murder of Thomas Becket turned Canterbury Cathedral from a quiet house of prayer into a medieval pilgrimage powerhouse. Becket wasn’t just a saint; he was a brand. To prove they’d made the trek, pilgrims flocked to the world’s first “cathedral gift shops” to snag lead badges and holy tokens.
A Relic Rediscovered
Fast forward to the 1400s: a master craftsman carves a bronze mould to manufacture, what became iconic Thomas Becket Lead Token. It shows Thomas performing a blessing on a horse fully vested as Archbishop and carrying his Primatial Cross, acompanied by a page and a dog. The mould disapeared for 400 to 00 years and then it resurfaced in Hull around 1840. Realizing its enormous historical significance, it was donated to the British Museum.
History Repeats Itself
By 1920, the museum realized that what worked for medieval pilgrims would work for modern tourists. They dusted off the designs and began selling replicas in their own gift shop, sparking a second wave of Becket-mania.
Today, the saga enters its third act.
In early 2026 we managed to get one of the 1920 original mouldings and we have recreated a perfect replica .
Eight centuries after the first token came out of the mould the “Holy Blissful Martyr” is back on the shelves of the History Bonkers shop.
The Thomas Token is around 85mm x 75mm in size. We have recreated the original pewter lead finish by using a cold cast, poly resin method.
We hand pigment and polish the finished piece. It weighs around 80gms.
