Seal impression (cast), of Alexander III

This is a 19th century sulphur cast of a seal impression. The impression was made from the reverse of the Great Seal of Alexander III dating from around 1249.

The seal depicts the king as a knight on horseback. He wears a tunic of mail covered by a long coat. He carries a grooved sword and a convex shield with a lion rampant heraldic design. The legend '+ ALEXANDER DEO RECTORE REX SCOTTORVM' translates as 'Alexander with God as guide, King of the Scots'. The gold border is modern cardboard trim.

Seals were used extensively from the 12th century in Scotland by kings, clergy, nobles and towns. In a society where few people could read or write, they provided evidence that documents were authentic. Great Seals were used primarily for grants of lands.

Record details

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Online ID:	000-180-001-728-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0504: National Museums Scotland Part 2 Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland K.1999.734
Date:	c. 1249 Date of cast: 19th century; Date of seal: Around 1249
Material:	Sulphur; brown; circular. Inscription: + ALEXANDER DEO RECTORE REX SCOTTORVM
Dimensions:	94 mm D
What:	Seal / cast
Subject:
Who:	Alexander III Young Collection
Where:
Event:
Description:	Brown sulphur cast of the reverse of the Great Seal of Alexander III, depicting the king as a knight on horseback, c. 1249
References:	Birch, Walter de Gray. History of Scottish Seals from the eleventh to the seventeenth century..., vol. I. The Royal Seals of Scotland. Stirling and London: Eneas MacKay and T. Fisher Unwin, 1905, p 27. Stevenson and Wood, i, p.5 no.15 Stevenson, J.H. and Wood, M. Scottish Heraldic Seals - Royal, Official, Ecclesiastical, Collegiate, Burghal, Personal, vol i. Glasgow, 1940, p 5 no. 15.
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