PUBLIC-150EED: medieval seal front and back

Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
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SEAL MATRIX

Unique ID: PUBLIC-150EED

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Awaiting validation

A heavily worn/abraded flat lead non-heraldic personal seal matrix of Medieval date c.AD 1200-1300.

Description: The matrix is flat and circular in plan. The central device and motif is unclear due to wear but maybe a simple short cross. This is surrounded by a legend which starts at twelve o'clock and runs retrograde (anti-clockwise) around the matrix so as to appear the correct way when used. The legend read "+S'AVGVS[...F(IL)]WIL", this is an abbreviation of Sgillium Augustine (possibly) fillius William. This translates as Seal of Augustine son of William, The reverse is also heavily worn with only a stub of a probable suspension loop at the apex of the reverse.

Measurements: diameter 23.47, thickness 6.37 and 19.2g in weight.

Discussion: This matrix fits with a group of commonly reported simple lead personal seal matrices dating to the 13th - mid 14th, such as KENT-756138. This group of relatively simple non-heraldic designs and crude personal inscriptions generally belong to the 13th century (Harvey and McGuinness 1996. 79-80).

Inscription: +S'AVGVS[...F(IL)]WIL

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1200
Date to: Circa AD 1300

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Thickness: 6.37 mm
Weight: 19.2 g
Diameter: 23.47 mm

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 13th March 2022

Personal details

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Materials and construction

Primary material: Lead Alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete

Spatial metadata

Region: South East (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Kent (County)
District: Ashford (District)
Parish or ward: Wittersham (Civil Parish)

Spatial coordinates

4 Figure: TQ8828
Four figure Latitude: 51.02063312
Four figure longitude: 0.67916145
1:25K map: TQ8828
1:10K map: TQ82NE
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.

Discovery metadata

Method of discovery: Metal detector
General landuse: Cultivated land
Specific landuse: Minimal cultivation

References cited

Author	Publication Year	Title	Publication Place	Publisher	Pages	Reference
Harvey, P.D.A. and McGuinness, A.	1996	A Guide to British Medieval Seals	London	British Library and Public Record Office

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Timeline of associated dates

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Audit data

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

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