🥇 BANNER Rotary seal is now complete!

Tommy G

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Location
Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
1
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AT Pro
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
A couple weeks ago I posted this rotary seal commenting that I would return to the 1756 home site where I found it and try to find the stone seal.

Second matrix.webp

That was actually the second one I had found. The first one I found back in June 2016, same site, did not have the bezel ring.
Original.webp

Well I returned to the site today to burn off a few Thanksgiving calories, I was amazed to find the actual seal and bezel ring to the first one!
In situ.webp

I got home, and after some careful cleaning, was able to remount the bezel ring and seal into the original one I found in June.
Both together.webp

It is a double sided seal with a lion on one side and a bust on the other. With some indirect light, I was able to get these photos.

Lion side.webpBust side.webp

Thank goodness the stone was still inside the metal bezel ring, or I never would have found it. I've been metal detecting for years, but this has got to be one of my best finds. Thanks for having a look!
 

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Upvote 96
Wow that is an AMAZING find-to reunite the seal with the mount, all in great condition AND a double-side seal. Congratulations-sometimes perseverance pays off big time. Definitely banner material-my vote is in
 

Awesome piece of history and to reunite the missing piece from your first one, Banner all the way!!
Congrats and hope you can still sleep!!
 

Wow that is an AMAZING find-to reunite the seal with the mount, all in great condition AND a double-side seal. Congratulations-sometimes perseverance pays off big time. Definitely banner material-my vote is in

Thanks, DND. I've been hunting this site regularly over the past two years. Just when I think it's hunted out, BAM! Oh how I love this hobby.
 

Awesome piece of history and to reunite the missing piece from your first one, Banner all the way!!
Congrats and hope you can still sleep!!

Thanks, deershed. Went to bed last night feeling like the little boy that just got his new Red Rider BB gun for Christmas!
 

Amazing I vote banner

Thanks, Trapperart. I am now really stoked at the possibility of finding the other seal. Can one person be that lucky? We will see.
 

Simply stunning!!! Your persistence paid off! :notworthy::notworthy::notworthy:
 

My banner nomination:

"This is an exquisite piece of the history of epistolary practices that took a lot of persistence to make whole. It is beautiful, functional, unique, and tells a great story."
 

My banner nomination:

"This is an exquisite piece of the history of epistolary practices that took a lot of persistence to make whole. It is beautiful, functional, unique, and tells a great story."

Very kind (and eloquent) of you, ZK. Not only do I learn a lot of history through TNet, I'm also building my vocabulary!
 

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Very kind (an eloquent) of you, ZK. Not only do I learn a lot of history through TNet, I'm also building my vocabulary!

Hee hee. That's very gracious of you. A find like that requires some sort of elevated description! I would much rather "seal an epistle" than "lick an envelope." That old custom makes our current one appear barbaric.
 

Just amazing how beautiful and special this is. Great story, too. Thanks for sharing and congrats. -Lisa & John
 

Just amazing how beautiful and special this is. Great story, too. Thanks for sharing and congrats. -Lisa & John

Thank you both for the comment. It will be some time before I can top this one!
 

Really amazing find. Surely British?
 

What a beauty and save, congrats on both parts! It's one of those finds HIGH on the want list, after so many yrs I'm still turning plugs waiting for one.
 

Really amazing find. Surely British?

Thanks for the comment, gordonquixote. A good possibility that it is British. County records show the land was purchased in 1756, but there are conflicting records regarding the building of the home. Some documents show 1756, while others as late as 1799. The original home still stands, but has been expanded and renovated over the years. Aside from the rotary seal, other old finds include a 1773 Virginia half penny, and half (cut) of a silver 8 real dated 1786, so even if the home was built inn 1799, there are several relics that indicate much earlier activity on that site.
 

What a beauty and save, congrats on both parts! It's one of those finds HIGH on the want list, after so many yrs I'm still turning plugs waiting for one.

Thanks, pepperj. To tell you the truth, I knew nothing about rotary seals until I found this first frame back in June. It was other TNet members that helped me to ID it and explain its use. I've learned quite a bit since joining TNet. It's a great forum and I do not hesitate to promote it to others in metal detecting circles.
 

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