10th-12th century AD. A silver-gilt roundel with a Ugric falconer on horseback, a falcon on his arm, horn in his hand, surrounded by forest animals, a disc in the field above, a gammadion below, the gilding providing a high contrast with the niello field, framed by a pricked dot roundel; symbol engraved on the reverse. Cf. Adams, N., Bright Lights in the Dark Ages. The Thaw Collection of Early Medieval Ornaments, New York, 2014, item 6.20. 3.85 grams, 33mm (1 1/4"). From the family collection of a UK gentleman, by descent in the early 1970s; previously acquired before 1960. The disc is a close parallel for the 'falconer disc' type of ornament found in the Ural region and known from a number of similar finds. The type is believed to have been made by the court craftsmen of the Volga Bulgar capital at Bilyar. This citadel was destroyed by the Mongols in 1236 AD. The discs remained in use as heirlooms for a considerable period. The iconography represents a falconer hunting with his favourite bird, surrounded by a sample of the wildlife of the northern forests. Some examples show the falconer raising a drinking horn to his lips. In addition to the gilt band, there is evidence for the use of niello to provide a stark contrast to the bright metal surfaces. The purpose of the discs has never been established for certain, but one possibility is that they were used as tally or accreditation items, guaranteeing safe passage to the bearer throughout the territory of the issuing ruler. Condition Report Very fine condition.