£340
Medieval Diocese of Ely heraldic enamelled roundel, circa 13th century. A thick bronze roundel enamelled on the front face with the arms of the Diocese of Ely, Gules three crowns or.
Each crown represents a local queen. One crown is for Etheldreda, a Saxon queen who founded a monastery in Ely, another is for her sister Sexburga who founded a nunnery at
Sheppey, and the third crown is for Etheldreda’s niece who took over the monastery after she died. The roundel is set within a circular gilt-bronze frame with three attachment points on the reverse. 38mm diameter x 4mm, 17.8g.
Nicholas Rogers: The Origins of English Diocesan Coats-of-Arms, Harlaxton Proceedings 1998, published 2003: "The earliest English diocesan coat-of-arms, it is generally agreed, is that of Ely: gules three crowns or. The seal of William de Luda (1290-98) is usually cited as its earliest occurrence"
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