Lead Seal

[jeff of pa]

found today in Abandond Ball field
along an Abandond rail Road

Can't Quite Make it out.

about 3/16 inch Thick
Size of a Lincoln Cent

What I can see appears to be

ELSDO

There are also Numbers on the Bottom
Can't Make out

 

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[tabdog]

That appears to be a bale seal.

There are bale seals and other kind of lead seals.

They are quite collectable.

They were used in tha 1600's through tha 1800's.

Here's one I found.

Lead seals such as cloth seals and bale seals were widely used
in Europe between the 13th and 19th centuries as a means of
identification and as a component of regulation and quality control.

They were also used in the US in the 17th and 19th century.

Bale seals were single disc seals, rather than two disc seals,
and were also used to identify textiles, as well as parcels and
bales of trade goods. The obverse would typically display a city's
arms, and the reverse would record data such as the length or
width of fabric or the weight of a parcel.

http://www.colchestertreasurehunting.co.uk/baleseals.htm

Here is a site about bale seals.

Happy Huntin,

Tabdoog

 

[seger98]

I'm thinking tabdog nailed that one, but what are you doing out metal detecting, you are always on Treasure Net

 

[jeff of pa]

THANKS TABDOG & seger98 !!!


I Forgot to Mention there was also a Canal Before the Rail Road
which Passed by here also.

Temps hit 50 DKinPA Called a I was getting the Itch
That's all it took.

I was out the door for 3 Hours

No coins, A Harley Sandle, Metal Orange Strainer,
A ton of Bullets (Must have been Pigeon shoots)
& Plenty of Tabs & Trash besides the seal
But all in all My 2nd day out since
Fall was Fun

 

[jeff of pa]

OK After Rechecking this Morning

I Got

MELSDOl

I Believe the l is Actually R

and the word WOMELSDORF
which is in Berks County
http://www.co.berks.pa.us/womelsdorf/cwp/view.asp?a=2095&q=479755&berksNavDLTEST=|32048|

Which Although I Can't Raise the date
Womelsdorf was along the Union Canal, Which also
Ran by here So I Am guessing could be Canal Related Lead seal

Which Should Place it between 1821 the year they Started Building the Canal
& 1862 the Year it was Destroyed by a Flood.

the Railroad from 1868 till ? so I Can't rule out
RR Though.

Thanks for all your Help !

Jeff