Cloth Seal, Alnage, Charles II Type Head, Image by StuE & Bilox, Found by Bilox.
Found in Yorkshire, larger discs 16mm, smaller discs 13mm, 9.3g.
The images show a complete four part alnage seal as found with the link between the rivet disc (disc 1) and disc 2 torn apart and the link between discs 2 and 3 straightened (probably when it was removed from the cloth) and, above this, re-bent as it would have been when in position on the cloth. Disc 2 shows a Charles II Type Head with OF ENG LAND curved either side of the bust. The other side has a beaded border containing a garter with the motto HONI SOIT QVI M (what appears to be a letter before the H is in fact the buckle of the garter). Inside this is a five petalled flower head above the Royal initials IR above a pellet. Below this are the figures 2 1/2 signifying the amount of alnage tax paid on the cloth (tuppence ha'penny).
See Geoff Egan, No.137 Fig.27, 'Lead cloth seals and related items in the B.M. (B.M. Occasional Paper 93)' for a match of the bust.
Near identical busts were used on the cloth seals of Charles II, James II and William III. See pages 161-165, Elton, Cloth Seals, Archaeopress, 2017.
