Image bank: Great seal of Charles II

The Fourth Great seal of Charles II, November 1672
TNA: SP 108/388

This seal was attached to an agreement with France and Portugal in 21st November 1672.

What is a seal?   A seal was attached to a document to show that the King or Queen agreed to what was written on it. The Lord Chancellor had the job of looking after the seal and made sure that he did not lose sight of it. It was a crime to try and copy the King’s Great seal.

Obverse: (Download this image seal obverse.jpg 171kb) The seal shows the King seated on the throne, holding the sceptre in his right hand and in the left the orb that rests on his knee. Two eagles at support the throne at the bottom. At the top two winged angels hold the shield bearing the royal arms. Beside the throne to the left is a lion with his paw on a flag showing the cross of St. George and to the right a unicorn holding a flag that shows the cross of St Andrew.

Reverse: The seal shows the king on horseback, his head uncovered, his hair flowing over his shoulders. He is wearing armour and carries a sword. In the background, underneath the horse is a view of the river Thames, and of London and Southwark connected by a bridge.

Questions for exploring this object:
1.  What is this object?
2.  What is the shape of this object?
3.  What do you think it is made of?
4.  What pictures can you see on both sides of it?
5.  Why do you think there are pictures on this object?
6.  What can we find out about King Charles II from this object?

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