1st-4th century AD. A group of four lead seals, one with the images of the goddess Ceres seated and holding ears of wheat in his right hand; the second representing the goddesses Minerva and Diana conversing, Diana armed with a bow in her right hand, and Minerva holding a shield in her right with spear in her left; the third a working woman; and the fourth the Christian Chrismon. See Still, M.C.W., Roman Lead Sealings, London, 1995.23.5 grams total, 16-20mm (3/4"). From the collection of a Surrey gentleman; acquired 1970-1980. The range of categories in which this style of sealing was used is heavily biased towards the official, particularly the military. This is clearly in keeping with the amount of effort and expenditure needed to make the specialised two-part mould necessary for the production of this type. It is difficult to see anything but a government-backed body being able to marshal the resources of die-engravers and bronze or iron workers on such a project. Other seals were used for commercial purposes such as transactions and contracts etc. The category of seals with the Chi-Ro monogram diffused from Constantine I onwards and would have been in use among ecclesiastic hierarchy. [4, No Reserve]