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SEAL MATRIX
Unique ID: PUBLIC-D03A56
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
An incomplete copper alloy seal matrix of Post-Medieval date. Late sixteenth/seventeenth century (c. AD 1575 – c. AD 1700).
The Merchant matrix consists of cast copper alloy circular die. the rear fixing is missing and was possibly similar in construction to PAS record IOW-602EE7 . There is however a raised rim around the edge of the reverse. The die depicts the a large X with a short fifth line projecting centre left and a plain long cross projecting up form the bottom right arm. A number of these elments together make it look like the number 4. There are two black letter initials, 'h//I' in two of the angles. It has a beaded outer edge.
Diameter: 16.42mm and 3.38mm thick. Weight: 4.83g.
The originally construction was likely tubular and attached to a wooden handle. Similar finds have been identified as producing merchants seals particularly of clothiers or weavers. The possible presence of the four here may in fact be a representation of the Mystical Sign of Four, also called the "Staff of Mercury". This symbol is known to have been adopted during the post-medieval period by a number of merchants and masons (Christison 1901, 117, fig 114)
Find of note status
This is a find of note and has been designated: Include in PostMedArch
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1575
Date to: Circa AD 1700
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 3.38 mm
Weight: 4.83 g
Diameter: 16.42 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 16th August 2020
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Kent (County)
District: Swale (District)
Parish or ward: Minster-on-Sea (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TQ9471
Four figure Latitude: 51.40483952
Four figure longitude: 0.78784405
1:25K map: TQ9471
1:10K map: TQ97SW
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christison, D. | 1901 | The Carvings and Inscriptions on the Kirkyard Monuments of the Scottish Lowlands; particularly in Perth, Fife, Angus, Mearns, and Lothian | Edinburgh | Society of Antiquaries of Scotland |
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Timeline of associated dates
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