Cloth Seal, Alnage, Elizabeth I*, London, Image & Found by Nick Blight.
Found near Bideford, North Devon, 24mm.
One disc and the rivet from a double disc cloth seal showing the crowned arms of England E R to sides, inscription in annulus around S' VLII['P]AO['VI]ALLE'LON'. The rivet shows a sword in the first quadrant of a ridged cross quartered, ornate shield (the arms of London) with flower to its right, all in rope border. The inscription is completely missing but from other examples would be:- LONDINI PRO PANNIS LANICIS (year).
A London alnage seal of Elizabeth I. *The ER could possibly stand for Edward VI extending the date back to 1553. The full inscription is known from other examples including No.61 Fig.19, Geoff Egan , 'Lead cloth seals and related items in the British Museum', and translates to:- seal of alnage of saleable cloths of London for woollen cloths at London.
