During some excavations on the premises of Messrs. Walker and Sons, Otley, Yorkshire, a mass of human and other bones, bears' claws, flint, charcoal, and burnt slates or tiles was turned up with the subsoil, and among the debris, at a depth of nearly Bft. from the modern soil level, six copper and bronze coins and a lead seal were found, several of the coins being in a good state of preservation. Some of the letters on the coins are worn, but it appears certain that some of the coins are of great antiquity. The seal is of more recent date. Seals like the one found were attached to the Papal bulls, and as this specimen has the usual aperture through its diameter to allow of the connection of the bull with the seal being made, there is no doubt that this was so attached to a document of this character. In years past the archbishops had a palace at Otley, and it is con jecturei that this is one of the many seals used in th > manner indicated. The seal in question bears authority from Pope Innocent IV., who occupied the Papal chair from 1243 to 1254. On the obverse are the Roman capitals " spa., spe,," standing respectively for St. Paul and St. Peter. Immediately below are the heads of those saints in relief, a cross in the middle dividing them. On the reverse arc the letters " IWNOOBNTIYS PP mi."
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZT18880601.2.49
Bibliographic details
New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 6, 1 June 1888, Page 31
Word Count
241Untitled New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 6, 1 June 1888, Page 31
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