Maryland Archeology Month

-April 2009-

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St. Mary's City:
375 years old, thousands of years young

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Archeology Gallery

Signet seal

This object is a signet seal with the initials “RM.” It is made of copper alloy, probably in England and dates to the 17th century. It would be used to impress hot wax on official documents. We do not know whose initials these may be. At least 19 individuals living in St. Mary's County in the 17th century had these initials. One possibility is Richard Moy who kept inn is St. Mary's City and served on the council for the city government. In 1670, Moy was ordered to seize the provincial records from one Richard Bloomfield. Moy was of the status and position to have possessed such a signet seal.