Cloth Seal, Armorial, Crowned Rose & Thistle

Cloth Seal, Armorial, 1558 onwards, George I, Image by Derfel, Found by Peter Olivant.
Found on the Thames Foreshore, 35mm.

Crowned Rose/Thistle combined // missing (reverse of rivet disc has distinctive ridge)

One of the larger inner discs from a four disc armorial seal - See No.197 Fig.28 Geoff Egan, 'Lead cloth seals and related items in the B.M.' (B.M.occ.papers 93), "crown over triple rose, flowering plant motifs to sides ....... A series of these seals, with inner discs c.40mm or just under in diameter, which are integrally cast with the devices (one with the arms of the realm and the other with a large, crowned rose), was in use from the reign of Elizabeth I to that of George I. The inner discs occasionally retain traces of gilding, which may well have originally been present on all these seals. The precise function of this series of large, well-produced seals, presumably issued as part of the alnage system, and its relation to the much commoner, smaller four-disc series remain enigmatic."

The rose and thistle combined was frequently used in the reign of George I.