Cloth Seal, Crowned Lion's Head & Bristol City Arms, Image by Guildy, Found by Ian Carey.
Found in Kent, 30mm by 32mm approx.
A two disc alnage seal showing a crowned lion's head with fleur di lis at the mouth, inscription around - S:VLNAGII:PN[N]ORV*IN*BRISTO[LLIA*] // the arms of Bristol (a ship leaving a castle) with inscription around - ...GII*PNNORV*
Inscription - seal of alnage for cloths for sale in Bristol. Probably a medieval seal from the time of the 1483-4 Statute (1) of Richard III requiring civic arms to appear on cloth seals.
See Provenanced Leaden Cloth Seals by Geoffrey Egan, Sub-Department of Medieval Archaeology, University College, University of London, 1987, p.37 "1128A) 2+, 29//29mm, (? ) Coventry, CV no. 49/227/257; pp 37-8,41,123,124; ship issuant from a port, (S x VLNA) around // leopard, fleur de lis below (close to mouth) (N)O(RV: I)N around (Lombardic letter)" A fuller inscription is found on seal 1128B, "S: VLNAGII:PANNORV;IN*BRISTOLLIA*"
