Russian Circular Dated Seal, Image by StuE, Found by Tattooed Detectorist.
Similar to other Russian seals of unknown use. Four individual numbers around the centre could be read in any sequence 1(8?)(2?)5.
With the help of other seals the Cyrillic writing curved around the outer border reads:- *C.П.Б.T.OTП.TO or S.P.B.T.OTP.TO in the Latin alphabet.
From Paul Cannon, "Based on the other custom’s seal TA can probably be expanded to ‘ТАможня’ and TOB to ‘ТОВар’? Whilst I can’t yet find any of the more common British types (with a blank reverse) on Russian sites perhaps this indicates they were attached to exported goods? I wonder if OTP can be expanded to ‘ОТРасль’ with the meaning of ‘department/section/branch’. The full inscription might therefore be expanded to С.П.Б. ТАможня ОТРасль ТОВар ie ‘St Petersburg customs department goods’??"
From Ged Dodd, "The date is read by starting with the 1 which is followed by a 7 or 8 and working round in a clockwise fashion .. reading the numbers as upright when they face the centre of the seal ..
This date is therefore 1854 .. ?? . **C.П.Б.T.OTП.T
note the OTП (OTP) in Cyrillic and single T's
The seals have a symbol in the centre taking many different forms .. this one is unreadable, others are crescents, flowers, shields etc.
Cyrillic initials of City Customs Department Goods surround the rim .. the initials vary .. and can be as in this seal .. starting at *
*C.П.Б.T.OTП.T .. Cyrillic version of *C.П.Б.T.OTP.T
C.П.Б (St Petersburg)
TAMOЖHЯ (Customs)
OTPACЛЬ (Department)
TOBAP (Goods)
(Riga seals have *РИЖОИ.ТА.ОТ.ТО)
These seals do not specify what the goods are and they were for general use with all goods.
see ref IDS 1196 on The PeaceHavens Project, Seal Numbers 1101 - 1200 and The PeaceHavens Project, Circular Dated Seals."
