Cloth Seal, Alnage, Crowned H

Cloth Seal, Alnage, Crowned H, Image & Found by Fisher1266X
Found in Lincolnshire, 22mm, 11.38g.

Crowned Lombardic h with foliate design to sides, foliate design R.. foliate design around // largely missing, cloth weave imprint on reverse of rivet disc

This is believed to be a cloth seal of Henry VI, VII or VIII. See PAS LIN-A05668, of which this seal may be a parallel. The crown is more clearly shown but we are still unable to say with certainty that the crown is closed (imperial) or open as the circular border becomes pelleted over the crown, which could either be decorative or signifying the imperial crown's arch. This is important in dating the seal as the imperial crown, or Tudor crown as it is also known, is believed to have been commissioned by Henry VII or Henry VIII. The first documentary evidence for it comes from 1521. The crown on this seal does not have the crosses and fluers-de-lis normally shown on the Tudor crown and resembles crowns featured on earlier matricies and seals.

It was also not certain whether it was an alnage seal or customs seal but at least we can now be certain it was used for cloth even if a customs seal, as there is a definite cloth weave imprint present.

Unfortunately, as well as these confirmations, this seal also brings some doubt to the interpretation of the inscription. This seal indicates a foliate design either side of two letters, H and an unknown (possibly P from examining PAS LIN-A05668).

See BSG.CS.00797 for a worn parallel.