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Description: | Medieval cast copper alloy pedestal type seal matrix dating from the 14th century. The matrix has a circular face with a central design of an eagle standing left with head turned back over shoulder and right leg raised within a line border encircled by the legend. The legend starts with a colon or star and reads AQVILA IOh'IS (Eagle of John). The matrix has a pedestal type handle rising from the face in 6 facets, narrowing as it rises to a waist from which it expands out slightly in a collar before ending in a flat, transverse, loop at the top. The loop has a circular piercing through it and comes to a point on the upper edge.Harvey and McGuinness attribute anonymous personal seals of this form to the 14th century. The eagle was the symbol of John the Evangalist. This impersonal legend is relatively rare given the popularity of John and the symbols of the evangalists in this period. See NMS-75FC14 and BUC-8376B3 for another of this broad type although with a slightly different inscription and oval form.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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