Identify this?

[arknor]

Definitely a Russian Bale Seal Google Images

definitely a russian bale seal then, found some useful info saying what the writing means on them although yours is different
first side:-
First line - N.P. = unknown initials.*
Second line - ?P12K = initials and numerals indicating the content of the bales.
Third line - 1790 = date of assessment.

Second side:-
First line - ЛД = LD = l'nyanoy dosmotr = Flax Inspection.
Second & Third line - M.ДE? = M.DYe?
ШЕВБ = ShYeVB = name of quality control officer.
Fourth line - ??? = number of work station used by QA officer.

http://www.bagseals.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=1065

You should be able to find out what the contents of the bale is IK12H will be the contants and how many
12h =12 hundred? lol just need to work out what goods the IK bit is for

They don;t seem to be worth anything I guess theres thousands and thousands of them around , still a nice find though

 

[newbiejim]

Oooh have a look at this page!!

http://finds.org.uk/database/images/index/objecttype/seal

E: esp this one!!

http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/288220

Great find, very similar and must point to it being associated with trade into west coast.

 

[arknor]

hah someone sold a russian bale seal on ebay and it went for 99p
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Russian-Seal-c-1782AD-/181066282449

I'll give you 3 quid for it if you don't want it

 

[Pestilence]

... and the inevitable next question: What's it worth?

 

[newbiejim]

hah someone sold a russian bale seal on ebay and it went for 99p
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Russian-Seal-c-1782AD-/181066282449

I'll give you 3 quid for it if you don't want it

Lol its not mine, very interesting find though, and how impressive is the power of u guys, didn't take long for the combined intellect of GD (such as it is) to home in on this and solve the mystery.

 

[arknor]

yea very interesting all I ever find on the beaches around Newcastle is sea weed and coal lol

 

[TrixiBuG]

According to the newsletters NP = Narva, Estonia

NP {NR} = Narva {always Cyrillic}
John originally regarded the latter pieces as being of un
known origin but I am fairly confident after finding
the following passage on the Net: “
Narva, Estonia:
Trade between Tayside and Narva began at the end of
the 1820s with ships bringing timber and a little flax. This
trade increased through the 1830s. By the late
19th century Narva was the region's major industrial city
and rivalled Reval (Tallinn) as a port.

http://www.mernick.org.uk/leadtokens/newsletters/LTT0611.pdf

 

[newbiejim]

According to the newsletters NP = Narva, Estonia



http://www.mernick.org.uk/leadtokens/newsletters/LTT0611.pdf

Great work, thanks, amazing after only a few hours its origin is pretty much sussed.

 

[newbiejim]

Just in addition as I had the chance to take a few pics with decent camera, incase anyone is at all interested.

OR originals via Dropbox link

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57925030/bale_token.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57925030/bale_token2.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57925030/bale_token3.jpg

 

[EyepodI]

Yar! Shiver me timbers, if ain't one of the pieces of eight. You just need to find the other seven.

 

[R-evans]

Good work GD.

 

[isonomicjedi]

Superb detective work by GD

Very impressed and happy that it is one less question running around my head when I try to sleep tonight.

 

[Hades]

Maybe some kind of stamp used for some reason to do with the transport of Irish convicts to Australia in 1791? The date tallies and you're not far from Ireland.

 

[Cliste]

JP
Irish
1791

from a whiskey cask? bottle top?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powers_(whiskey)

prob nowhere near

I find this interesting considering that Powers whiskey was founded in 1791.

 

[Curio]

Maybe some kind of stamp used for some reason to do with the transport of Irish convicts to Australia in 1791? The date tallies and you're not far from Ireland.

You know what you haven't done, don't you?