Hudson Bay Co. Lead Seal & Tinkle Cone

WawaDuane · Sep 17, 2018

Back out today filling in the blanks on my map of the area. First signal was a large "tinkle cone" so I figured it was going to be a good day.

Tinkle Cone.

Knife & fork.

Assorted

Button

Copper nuggets...the area is rich with Old Copper Culture finds..these were in the same hole.

Fancy mug.

And the coolest find of the day...a HBC lead seal. You can see on the front the words "Pro" & "Cutem" . Pro Pelle Cutem [Lat, "a skin for a skin"], the official motto of the HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY, was adopted soon after the company received its charter in 1670.

I'm not sure what the markings on the back mean...some forgotten fur count?

Front

Back

Blak bart · Sep 17, 2018

Too cool !! Congrats

Hawks88 · Sep 17, 2018

Nice bunch of saves. I like the old mug. Congrats

Terry Soloman · Sep 17, 2018

What a hunt - Congratulations!!! :hello2:

Rookster · Sep 17, 2018

Amazing finds.Congrats :icon_thumright:

toasted · Sep 17, 2018

Possibly a cloth seal? They typically have such marks etched on the back

WawaDuane · Sep 17, 2018

toasted said:
Possibly a cloth seal? They typically have such marks etched on the back

Could be....there were HBC and NW Co. posts in the area....I assumed it was fur trade related? Maybe something for a bundle of furs, but that's only a guess.

A2coins · Sep 17, 2018

well done a tinkle cone

??

toasted · Sep 17, 2018

WawaDuane said:
Could be....there were HBC and NW Co. posts in the area....I assumed it was fur trade related? Maybe something for a bundle of furs, but that's only a guess.

Its a cloth seal for furs to be used as clothing I guess. A fur seal lol

WawaDuane · Sep 17, 2018

A2coins said:
well done a tinkle cone ??

Rolled copper that Natives used to adorn their clothes, dresses etc with and they made noise.

Whyme · Sep 18, 2018

Nice finds! :icon_thumleft:

That lead seal is awesome!

glass half fool · Sep 18, 2018

Wow you have found a very good spot .All of the items make for a great day . I really like the cup .For it to be intact is something. But the seal is more of conversation piece.

Professor of Engineering · Sep 18, 2018

Fantastic hunt, congratulations! :occasion14:

islamoradamark · Sep 18, 2018

That seal is unusual that could mark the spot of a trading post or old store

CRUSADER · Sep 18, 2018

WawaDuane said:
Could be....there were HBC and NW Co. posts in the area....I assumed it was fur trade related? Maybe something for a bundle of furs, but that's only a guess.

That type of seal would be described in the UK as a Cloth Seal & like toasted mentions its not that unusual to have numbers like the yards in the bundle, or how many were taken off etc. Now, as to what it sealed over there, furs would make sense, & so would the numbers to the right expert.

Brendan75 · Sep 18, 2018

Hi, wow great finds. Congrats :icon_thumleft:

glass half fool · Sep 18, 2018

I am not an expert on the subject but from what I have read the furs where taken to the fur companies such as Hudson Bay or Northwest Company by the trappers .Some where considered Free Trappers and others where Company Trappers . The Free Trappers could do business with any company .While the Company Trappers where obligated to only do business with the company they worked for .The mark up on supplies sold to the trappers was often from 600% to 1500% .So the Free Trappers could negotiate on buying the supplies they needed .When the trappers came in to company store the furs where graded and counted .After that they where sealed into bales .That seal indicated the value of that bale and was not to be broken. In those days the fur industry had it's own monetary system based on the value given the pelts by the trading company.

ANTIQUARIAN · Mar 30, 2019

Very interesting Native and HBC finds Duane! :thumbsup:

Thank you for saving some of our Northern Ontario history my friend.

Dave

tnt-hunter · Mar 30, 2019

Great day of hunting. The seal is a real piece of history and a unique find in my book.

I had never heard of a tinkle cone before. I don’t think I have found one, but if I had I probably would have put it in the recycle bucket. Thanks to your post I know better now and will think a little harder before adding to the bucket o junk.

Thank you! Good luck and keep swingin, :icon_thumright:

DigToChina · Mar 30, 2019

Congrats Wawa,

Love that seal. The fur trade opened North American to European settlement so in my mind what you have found is important and having an historical artifact from North America’s oldest company is pretty dang cool.

Imagine the ways that could have gotten there (thinking The Revenant) [emoji848]

Dig