Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
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SEAL MATRIX

Unique ID: BH-0ABAE5

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation

A complete cast copper-alloy Medieval seal matrix dating c. AD 1300-1400. The seal matrix face is circular with a worn tapering hexagonal stem extending from the reverse that terminates at a slightly recessed attachment loop. The recessed design on the face is of a boat with a semi-circular hull, and straight mast with two lines of rigging on one side and three lines of rigging on the other side. This is enclosed within a circle of text that reads 'PRIVE SV•' that translates as 'I am private'. The upper and lower edges of the legend are bordered by a circular line of dots, the lower line of which is intersected by the upper portion of the boat's mast.

The seal matrix measures 17.2mm in height and the face 16mm in diameter. The attachment loop is 6.8mm external diameter, 2.8mm thick and 1.6mm internal diameter. The seal matrix weighs 5.06 grams.

For parallel objects recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database, see YORYM-419CC1 and GLO-8A42C6 with the same legend, and for those with alternative legends, LVPL-530933 reading 'S'OIVOLAEIA' and BH-C61148 reading '+hEV OV RVMILOV'. All of these date to the fourteenth century.

Inscription: 'PRIVE SV•'

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1300
Date to: Circa AD 1400

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Height: 17.2 mm
Weight: 5.06 g
Diameter: 16 mm

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Monday 23rd December 2019 - Monday 23rd December 2019

Personal details

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Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete

Spatial metadata

Region: Eastern (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Hertfordshire (County)
District: North Hertfordshire (District)
Parish or ward: Wallington (Civil Parish)

Spatial coordinates

4 Figure: TL2934
Four figure Latitude: 51.98948027
Four figure longitude: -0.12274292
1:25K map: TL2934
1:10K map: TL23SE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
General landuse: Cultivated land

References cited

No references cited so far.

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Timeline of associated dates

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Audit data

Recording Institution: BH
Created: About one year ago
Updated: About one year ago

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