Drohiczyn-type Small Lead Seals with the Image of a Bird from the Collection of the National Museum in Krakow. Old Ruthenian Sigillography Versus Early Piast Numismatics / Plomby typu drohiczyńskiego z wyobrażeniem ptaka w kolekcji Muzeum Narodowego w Krakowie. Staroruska sfragistyka versus wczesnopiastowska numizmatyka

Abstract

The rich collection of the Numismatic Cabinet of the National Museum in Krakow (MNK) includes special sigillographic artefacts, i.e. Drohiczyn-type small lead seals. The collection contains specimens with various iconographic representations, including small seals with images of birds. Similar small seals are known from archaeological excavations conducted in Mazovia. Interestingly, some images impressed on the small seals have analogies with representations on Piast coins from the 12th and 13th century. It is highly likely that the small seals with images of birds are local issues from Mazovia. This is indicated by a characteristic type of bird representations, most probably eagles. This would mean that they were an adaptation of the Ruthenian idea of using small lead seals but with local Piast symbols.