BSG.CS.01052 — Cloth Seal, Dutch, Leiden, Crossed Keys & Lion

Found in the Algarve, Portugal, 26.0mm, 19.53g.

Blank (cut) // lion rampant holding sword in right paw and (seven) arrows in left // shield bearing crowned saltire keys, LAIDEN.ENCES around // blank (has remnants of gilding)

Normally the seven arrows in the claw symbolized the seven provinces of the Northern Netherlands:- Groningen en Ommelanden, Friesland, West-Friesland, Overijssel, Gelderland, Holland, and Zeeland. On this seal there only appear to be five arrows. Perhaps some Dutch historian knows of a time when only five provinces were included or it may well be down to die-cutters licence.