Round lead disc with design. What is it???

[testing123]

Found this in an area that's yielded relics from 1700s to today. It appears to be lead and as you can see it's quite a bit larger than a U.S. quarter. Any ideas on what it can be? Thanks for any input!

 

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[ARC]

Looks like a lead tax stamp

 

[ARC]

In 1765, the British imposed the Quartering and Stamp Acts. The Quartering Act obligated the Colonies to provide lodging and supplies for British soldiers. The Stamp Act, the first direct levy on the Colonies and passed to generate funds for the British. Newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets, broadsides, legal documents, dice, and playing cards were taxed by this act. Stamps, issued by the British, were attached to the taxed items to indicate that the tax had been paid.

 

[coachbedford]

ARRC may have hit it on the head-- and if so that is an awesome Colonial find. I don't recall ever seeing one of these lead pieces outside of a history book.

 

[testing123]

Wow, now that would be pretty cool if it was! I tried looking online for other images but didn't have much luck. Where do you think the next step would be to research it further?

 

[coachbedford]

This would be a tough one to research unless you can ID specific words on this piece or specific design elements. I would first try googling "18th century British lead seal" then "17th century British lead seal" or "Colonial lead seal"...."Stamp Act lead seal".....Have to say, I am not sure I see the big Tudor rose on your piece that I do in the stamp tax illustration. Your design may be some kind of shield of arms. On the other hand, I believe I do see the stems and leaves, so maybe the rose is just warped and worn by time and the elements.