People of Medieval Scotland
1093 - 1371

Seal-Matrix: Duncan II, king of Scots (great seal)

Owner
Duncan II, king of Scots (d.1094)
Matrix Shape
round
Image description (obverse)
Single-sided seal, depicting the king on horseback to *sinister*, wearing chain mail and a hood, thrown back. He also wears a conical helmet with nasal guard, and holds a lance with a *pennon* with two tails in his right hand, and a kite-shaped shield in his left.
Image description (reverse)
Legend (obverse)
SIGILL[UM DUNECANI REGIS SCOT]TORUM (“Seal of Duncan, king of the Scots”)
Legend (reverse)
Catalogue
R/K/1/1
Notes
The earliest known seal of a Scottish king. For a summary of the debate of the seal's authenticity, and the rejection of Henry Laing’s suggestion that the legend read SIGILL[UM DUNECANI DEO RECTORE REGIS SCOT]TORUM (“Seal of Duncan, by God’s rule king of the Scots”), see Stevenson and Wood I, p.1. Dimensions: 2 1/8 in. (54 mm.) diameter. SW I, p.1, no.1. Durham 3073.