Melted cw lead with print

NolanTheExplorer · Mar 10, 2014

This one is bugging me. Any info would be appreciated.
-found in the middle of a civil war fort (union)
-feels to be about the weight of a cw bullet.
-lead
-thought it was a soldiers game piece but not 100 sure
-thought it was coin print on lead but not in reverse so not sure.

Thanks!

duggap · Mar 10, 2014

I think what you have is a seal. Probably from Europe.

surf · Mar 10, 2014

Hello Deadhead,

I'm thinking it a lead seal. It's French, though I'm not able to read much, something - "Des Douane…" Des Douane meaning; Customs. Maybe you can see it better with a loupe…

Have a look at this earlier thread: http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/today-s-finds/201283-1817-lead-seal.html

RestoringYourFinds · Mar 10, 2014

It is a sealing lead. It was used to ensure the integrity of a shipment of goods. It actually has a French legend (around it) I can read "Administration Des Douanes" which means "Customs Administration".
On the obverse, you also have "Ord. du 8 janvier 1817" which could translate as Royal Decree, January 8th, 1817
On the reverse, you have the 3 fleurs-de-lys which represents the French King, Louis the 18th at the time.
There is a good chance this sealing lead must have been connected to a tobacco shipment. Tobacco being shipped back to France... Now, the nature of the shipment is just a guess. Might as well have been a shipment coming from France...

Congrats ! It is a really neat find !