VISUAL IDENTIFICATION

Not everything that glitters is gold, and not all "junk" is worthless.

✝️ Cast metal items (crosses and icons)

• **Pre-Mongol period (11th-13th c.):** Enkolpia (folding reliquary crosses), "zmeeviks" (serpent amulets). High-quality bronze.
• **"Steering wheel" crosses (17th-18th c.):** Crosses with rays radiating from the ends of the arms.
• **"Petal" crosses (women's):** Rounded shapes.
• **Nikita Besogon:** A popular subject on icon pendants - a saint beating a demon with a stick.

🐴 Horse tack

A common find that beginners often throw away.

• **Bells:** Whole bells that still "ring" are especially prized.
• **Plaques and fittings:** Harness decorations. May feature crests or patterns.
• **Rings:** A lot of copper rings aren't jewelry for giants - they're harness parts.

🔘 Buttons

• **"Weight" buttons (girki):** Old-style (pre-18th c.) teardrop-shaped buttons.
• **"Eagle" buttons (orlyanki):** Military uniform buttons bearing a coat of arms (eagle). The number or emblem (axes, cannons) can identify the regiment.