Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
SEAL
Unique ID: LANCUM-A47120
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
Lead bag seal of post medieval to modern date (c. 1550 - 1850 AD). The object is oblong in form, with an integral discoid section at the back. The front face bears a design in relief of a central cross, the ends of which fork and curl backwards, within a beaded border. Within one corner of the cross sits a sword. Beneath the cross appears to run an inscription, the letters of which are indistinct and indecipherable, apart from possibly an I; this is defined on the outer edge by a further beaded border. The object is not complete; the top and sides of the design are missing. The object is cream in colour, with a rough surface. It is 20.8mm in length, 12.56mm at maximum width and 2.83mm at maximum thickness. It weighs 2.71g.
The use of a cross is a common design on bag seals dating from the 16th - 18th centuries. The sword represents the arms of London and is paralleled on a bag seal found in Yorkshire, which is dated to the period 1564 - 1573 AD: YORYM-431CE7. It is likely therefore that the bag seal under discussion was also used to mark wares manufactured in London.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: MODERN
Date from: Circa AD 1550
Date to: Circa AD 1850
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 20.8 mm
Width: 12.56 mm
Thickness: 2.83 mm
Weight: 2.71 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 17th May 2018
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: North West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Cumbria (County)
District: Allerdale (District)
To be known as: Near Cockermouth
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: DUR-2371CF
Object type: SEAL
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A cast lead bag seal of the middle Post Medieval period (AD1600-1700).
The seal consists of a double cast disc with bifurcated slots whi…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: BERK-3AA103
Object type: SEAL
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A lead bag or customs seal of Post-Medieval date. The seal is bi-faced. On one side is the letter M above the letters ?IZK within a beade…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: YORYM-24B284
Object type: SEAL
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A complete cast lead customs seal of modern date. The seal is sub-circular in plan with a rectangular cross section and is comprised of a sin…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618