Rights Holder: Kent County Council
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TRIAL PIECE
Unique ID: KENT-8A4DDD
Object type certainty: Probably
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A worn and etched, sheet lead. Medieval pointed oval seal matrix trial piece.
Description: On the front is an incised central motif of a star, surrounded by two parallel lines in an oval shape, between the lines is the inscription. The inscription reads "+S'R[O]BERT FIL'I ROGER". The lettering is mostly written upside down and forward so, if impressed wax would read incorrectly back to front. The one exception to this is the "R" for "ROGER", which is retrograde and thus would appear the correct way round. The lettering is still however placed in the order one would expect of a matrix, so while the lettering is incorrect the word placement is not. The sheet is heavily warped due to it being folded on discovery and then subsequently unfolded by the finder, revealing the inscription.
Measurements: 100.69mm long, 43.74mm wide, 3.71mm thick and 82.23g in weight.
Discussion: While superficially this appears to be a standard pointed oval seal matrix dated between c. AD 1200 -1350. The use of sheet rather than cast lead and the somewhat garbled and recut lettering points to this being a trial piece. The inscription translates as 'Seal of Robert son of Roger'
Find of note status
This is a find of note and has been designated: Include in MedArch
Inscription:
+S'R[O]BERT FIL'I ROGER
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 1350
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 100.69 mm
Width: 43.74 mm
Thickness: 3.71 mm
Weight: 82.23 g
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Lead
Manufacture method: Hand made
Completeness: Uncertain
Surface Treatment: Incised or engraved or chased
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Kent (County)
District: Gravesham (District)
Parish or ward: Shorne, Cobham and Luddesdown (District Ward)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TQ6868
Four figure Latitude: 51.38618042
Four figure longitude: 0.41299429
1:25K map: TQ6868
1:10K map: TQ66NE
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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