19th century AD. A large electrotype of the obverse great seal matrix for Henry II, being a contemporary forgery of the official seal taken from the original piece in the British Museum, depicting the king riding with heater shield brandishing sword in right hand, with +HENRI[C]VS DVX NORMANNOR ET AQVITANNOR ET COMES ANDEGAVOR inscription. See Tonnochy, A. B., Catalogue of British Seal-Dies in the British Museum, BM, London, 1952, number 4, pl.II for the original from which this electrotype was taken (found Barmby Moor Common, East Riding, Yorkshire before 1874"). 332 grams, 95mm (3 3/4"). Property of a London lady; by inheritance. Royal and other seals applied to charters were verification of the authenticity of the document; such documents often conferring rights to property or to benefits in other ways; forgery of seals was known and the penalties for making or using them were very severe. The Church was guilty of such practices with some abbeys and abbots being rapacious in seeking to establish or maintain valuable rights and unscrupulous enough to resort to forgery of charters and their seals; with a copy of the British Museum Catalogue entry. [No Reserve]