File:14th C. Merchant's seal - print (FindID 71975).jpg

English: Copper-alloy seal matrix of medieval date. A circular merchant's seal dating to the 14th C. AD and apparently belonging to someone called Johan Tarmester. The seal is in good condition. The printing face has no discernable wear or corrosion. The central image lies within a circular border and depicts a typical 14th-century merchant's shield design.

At the centre of this shield is a triangle. A cross emanates from the upper point of the triangle and into the outer ring occupied by the legend. Just underneath the head of the cross, on the left hand side (as you look at it) is a flag, depicted by three parallel wavy lines. At the top right and left hand corners of the shield are possible vine motifs, each comprising four grapes (?) attached to the cross shaft. An upward pointing crescent occupies the space underneath the triangle. The legend runs anti-clockwise on the seal matrix (clockwise on the printed seal) from approximately 10 o'clock (due to the flag above).

It reads: S'IOhAn TARMESTER (Seal of John Tarmester). The surname does not occur in Reaney and Wilson's Dictionary of English Surnames and its origin remains obscure.

The reverse of the seal tapers upwards to a central lug. It is unclear whether this lug is missing its distal end or whether it is complete. The sides of this lug are not smooth, but slightly angular in appearance. Four indented vertical lines around the outer edge of the reverse add to this appearance. The outer edge is also broken up by a small depression, which is presumably an in-gate from the casting process. The piece is 27.6mm in diameter by 13.4mm deep (from the face to the distal end of the lug). It weighs 24.96g.