Seals or Weights?

[rupsul]

Me again. Have just been searching a field and found these four "things" scattered round. They are heavy and the one, which my spade unfortunatly grazed, shows a lead color. You will notice that their round shape is off set by a bump on either side inbetween these bumps are ingraved lines. They could once have run rihgt throuhg so that a strap could have passed through? and have been squashed? THey all have the Belguim lion on them (oh ya to you guys who havn4t realised I'm the guy who submitted the bird ring query, I'm detecting in Belguim. The inscription on the 20 side reads (BR "missing" ELLES idi ? ) then of course the 20 in the middle. It is in a modern text so I don't think it is that old. Then on that same sid eon one of the two bumps it reads SDE and the rest is cut off. It would seem like these have been cut from something else and have been inpressed. ON the Lion side it reads (BR "missing" DE LETA [meaning from the state in french] then an upside down ! ? CH "missing" HS. I think it is Lead. THE french is strange because I am in Flemish Belguim. THis has really got me confused and I would not know where to begin with the research. PLease Help!

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Agony and Death on a Gold Rush Steamer: The Disastrous Sinking of the Side-Wheeler Yankee Blade - Grab it through Amazon!

[rupsul]

Here are the other sides

 

[rupsul]

Found another three of the same things, though on to of these the number 4 is clearly visable. the inscription on the number side reads "TIBLEMONT" and on the lion side before the DE LETA "TER" is clear. Come on all you profs help me out

 

[rupsul]

other side

 

[rupsul]

I forgot to add that in the new batch the indents went quite far in pointing towards my hollow theory

 

[dubai]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/freemansmith/17th.htm

http://www.imacdigest.com/conserve.html


Looks Like a Hey Bale Seal

 

[rupsul]

good lead (excuse the pun) will look into it. You mayb on to something. The first site was very interesting but the second one unfortunatly did not work. Any more good ideas would b apreciated

 

[rupsul]

interesting site http://www.pastportal.com/Archive/Research Reports/Html/RR1554.htm

 

[dubai]

Are you going to do any metal detecting further North, or along the beaches

there is a long History of Civilization in places that are now abandoned like Helesingor in Denmark where Kronburg Slot is (thats where Hamlet was set) and there are so many WWII battle Feilds to the East of where you are should be quite amazing to wonder through them with a metal detector

 

[rupsul]

Unfortunatly I'm restriced for time and movement. I'm in Belguim for other reasons but have a trip to the beach planned and have a site consisting of an 1850 school+1800 church together situated on an old monestry site and too top it all off there is a park infront!!!! I'm so excited. Do not think I will be able to sleep till I've swept every inch . Then near the end of my trip I will be going along the normandy beachs which should be rewarding. I'm hunting using a borrowed Garrett GTI2500. I'm SOOO impressed. anyone else useing one?
and back to the reason for this post. found three things which I am sure are the unpressed "seals" in the same field. they have the same diametre and have the slit running right through with a thin centre stem in the middle. Look alittle like a pulley. know what type of seal is press in the field. The Hay idea fits the discription but can find nothing related to that.

 

[[email protected]]

I have found several of those here in Canada, although written in english. They tagged onto cargo or freight by customs. The type I find that are your size, tend to be marked by a railway co. I also find a large, heavier variety that dates to the early 1800's that were tagged onto cargo when it arrived at the Can/U.S. border. Also similar are seals that were attached to animal pelts during the fur trade (1700's). All of these varieties were called bale seals, but had little to do with hay.
Want to trade one of yours for a Canadian one?
Nice finds,
Dave.

 

[rupsul]

Mystery solved! Thanks allot dneyedli. The field is actually on the border line between Belgium and Holland but since the European union was formed the boarder post has been removed. I am now pretty shore that that is exactly what these are. What do you think the numbers indicated? I will try translate the lettering as well. I would be very happy to make the exchange. You seem and honest person so just give me your postal address and I'm send it. It might only be at the beginning of January thats when I get home. I will send you my address nearer the time. Thanks again for the help

 

[rupsul]

Still waiting for a reply. By the way what is the best way to clean them? olive oil?