This is my first post, after I stumbled across this site in my research. Anyhoo, I need help to identify this coin. The find location is NE Scotland. To the coin. Not to sway anyone but it looks to me early 'Teutonic order', but I lack reference material. My supposition is by no means certain. Can anyone shed more light? Weight is approx 10g and so is heavy for it's remaining size of maybe 20mm
This is a medieval lead seal, with a very simple escutcheon with a simple cross, pellets in the quarters and a beaded border. I have a book on British seals on the way to me, I'll take a closer look when it comes. I don't see any reason to believe it belongs to a member of the Teutonic order, their sealings were usually much more elaborate.
I see, how interesting. It would be marvelous if it could be identified. Thanks. Meh, the greek cross in the shield looked reminiscent of early coins I've seen of the teutonic Order (cross in heater type shield) that I seen in Krakow museum in Poland. Would a seal have a design on the back though? You can't see it so well on the photo really, but there are raised angles of a design and beading around the edge. Still, the object was found in Scotland I suppose.
A better is, "Would a coin have space for a thread to pass through it?" That's what the two deep channels are. Seals can be two sided, but I can't make out whats on the reverse of this one.
You wouldn't happen to have any more, would you? I've gotten real interested in seals lately, any that I can look at help.
No, afraid not. I obtained that seal for 5 UK pounds, but I know where it was unearthed and it was unearthed quite recently (not near any recognised site, I hasten to add). A one off in my collection.
Uh, just an update for anyone that is interested. I had a closer look and. in these pics you can see 1. Crossed Croziers or crozier crossed with tau sword. 2. Seems t show faint outline of bishop holding cross.
Well, my book on British seals turned out to be not on private seals, but municipal and governmental seals. Oh well. BUT! By marshaling my other resources, I was able to learn that this is, as I suspected, a seal. But its not medieval at all. And its not a document seal! Its a cloth seal, applied by British merchants to bales of cloth or similar products. This type was used from the 18th to 19th centuries, after the rivet-type seals were phased out. The reverse, I now see, reads W/A. (Rotate the image about 30 degrees to the right) Compare: http://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ukdfddata/showrecords.php?product=17500&cat=131 http://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ukdfddata/showrecords.php?product=16302&cat=88 http://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ukdfddata/showrecords.php?product=13088&cat=231 Fascinating how it so resembles Byzantine document seals! Manuel Comnenus-Ducas. Circa 12th century. PB Seal (37mm, 22.15 g, 12h). O/A/G/I/OC down left field; [MEP]/KOV/PI/OC down right field; St. Merkourios standing facing, wearing military attire, holding spear in right hand, left hand on shield / MAPTVC/ MANOVHL/ KOM[NH]NO D(OY)/KAN CKE/POIC in six lines; cross above. BLS I -; DOCBS -; Seyrig -; Vatican -; Orghidan -; Jordanov II 351. VF, gray patina, suspension damage.
Hey, thanks for that. It's strange though. Wiltshire detectorist dababase has a couple VERY similar listed (but with lesser number of pellets) as a early medieval bale seal..yet, I see the photo links..and they have it as a 17th/18th cent..seal. One site has it that these seals were re-used. A passing historian of Arbroath Abbey sees it as a pilgrim badge. I see you point abut the WA...but I've seen many patterns in it in the study. On my imaged photo is VERY definatly crossed croziers or crozier crossed with sword..though I am suspicious about the bishop image being random pattern. I just can't see how that could be on a seal from 1800s..unless it was re-used. Fascinating and esciting. As I said..I'm waiting on it being ID'd by the national museum of Scotland. Thanks very much for you suggestions and work on it...I'll be sure to report the fndings to you.
Well, we'll see..the crossed croziers are on the front witht he escutcheon bottom right in line with the curve of the pellets.
I think I ... I think that I may have made a mistake when I said the coin/seal was worth 80,000. Now I am sure that cannot be worth more than a beer fart. Sorry for that misrepresentation.encil::goofer::hug::desk::goofer::hammer:
