Cloth Seal, Elizabeth I, Alnage, Crowned Fleur-de-lis

Cloth Seal, Alnage, Crowned Fleur-de-lis, Image & Found by John GM
Found on the Thames London foreshore.

See UKDFD Ref. No. - 25671:-
"A two-disc alnage seal dating to the reign of Elizabeth I. Disc 1 (the rivet disc) bears a crowned fleur-de-lis flanked by the royal initials, ER. Disc 2 (the rove disc) has no discernible design.

The ’Alnage’ was a tax levied on cloth, and the purpose of the alnage seal was to provide evidence that the tax had been paid and the cloth was legally saleable. The seals were applied by officials (’Alnagers’) appointed by the government to oversee the process. The Alnage, which had been levied since medieval times, was finally abolished in 1724. However, although this marked the end of their use for taxation purposes, lead cloth seals continued to be used for quality control purposes until the 19th century."