Riga, 1400

This medieval lead seal bears the coat of arms of the medieval city of Riga in present-day Latvia in the form of a shield with two crossed keys. There is also a partially obliterated inscription between two pearl rings, the visible part of which reads ‘secr’ (secretum?) and ‘deus’. The same inscription is probably found on the other side.

Lead seals were used as a guarantee mark for goods (often textiles) produced in the cities and were used in trade both nationally and internationally.

The seal was found in 1935 during an archaeological excavation of Läckö Castle in Västergötland, together with 3 other seals from Riga and one traced to the northern German city of Lübeck.

Image rights: Helena Bonnevier, Ekonomiska museet - Kungliga myntkabinettet/SHM (CC BY 4.0)

Object number: 117750_HST

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