Russian Bale Seal, Cross on Shield Type

Russian, Flax or Hemp Seal. Cross on Shield, WP 12K, Image by Bilox, Found by Jammy Ged.
Found in Wetherby / Knaresbough area of Yorkshire, 19.0mm, 11.6g.

Shield with cross showing five pellets in the third and forth quadrant, all bordered with pellets. The other side is again bordered with pellets and showing W(P?) above 12K.

See Figs. 87 to 89 in John Sullivan, 'Russian Cloth Seals in Britain Trade, Textiles and Origins', 2012. "Other possible Baltic/Riga seals ... On one side they carry two initials ... The initials stand above or beneath the numeral and letter combination 12K, 12H, 9K, indicating the quality of flax ... On the other side of these seals is a quartered shield each quarter containing four, five or six pellets ... The establishment of which town or province had this emblem in its arms would identify the origin of this group of seals." p.50.

The K could stand for Kopecks - 100 kopecks to a rouble. The number shown on Russian bale seals, usually 12K or 15K, is the rate per rouble value of the goods that has been paid in tax (the original % VAT !):- see The Searcher October 2000, Russian Bale Seals by Nick Du Quesne Bird. P.23 & 24. These inscriptions are now thought to indicate the quality of the flax.

Prior to 1585 Narva's coat of arms consisted of a shield bearing a cross with a rose in the first two quadrants (private communication from Sten Berglund, "Two coats of arms are indeed the arms of Narva*, Grand Master Cysse von Rutenbergi gave it to Narva merchants in 17. january 1426, it was used to mark wax and other goods. In years 1526- 1530 it was used for sealing records (written documents), in 1546 was the same coat of arms engraved to the cities main gate- therefor it can be considered as a coat of arms of Narva. It is unknown how long the coat of arms (crossed schield with roses in the upper sections) was used. It is sure that in 1585 Narva got new coat of arms (shield with fish, saber and cannon balls) from the king of Sweden Johann III." *p.15, Sten Berglund, Middle and Modern Age Lead Seals as the Source of Trade History,Tartu, 2010. See also Fig.2, p.128, Sten Berglund, Middle Age and Modern Period Trade Seals collected from Narva Citizens' Houses on Suur Street 22 and 24 and A Stock Exchange Building during Archaeological Excavations in Narva in 2004–2005 and 2009, Narva Museum Papers, 2010. This all suggests the seals are from Narva, however Sten has also pointed out that the coat of arms of the Archbishop of Riga is a plain cross on a shield and so despite both Cities having a different coat of arms at the time that these seals were issued they would both have an historic precedence for the use of the cross on shield design.

From Ged Dodd, "The obverse has pellets -/-/5/5 (whereas normally they are 5/5/-- and I have checked the shield does not seem to be upside down).
The reverse has the Grower/Owner/Agent initials of WLT with 12K - 12 high grade Krown quality flax plants in the bale.
The old idea of K possibly meaning Kopecs is no longer valid. K is always Krown.
See IDS 1186 on PeaceHavens, Seal Numbers 1101 - 1200."