Lancaster Borough seal is a thick disk of bronze with the seal depicted on one side and nothing but a small "T" struck at the edge of the opposite side. Sides taper slightly inward from blank side to image side, and are decorated with a center coved ring flanked by incised rings.
Image of seal on the face has a central shield divided in two with 3 sheaves of wheat at top and a rose at bottom. Vining roses surround shield. Around edge of perimeter is inscribed "SEAL OF THE BOROUGH OF LANCASTER 1781." Encircling the lettering is a decorating line of dots.
Provenance
Unknown provenance except purchase from Robert F. McMurtrie.
Framed seal of Robert Coleman. Red wax seal. Imprint of shield with rampant lion in the center. Banner underneath shield reads, "Inomnia Paradus" Directly above the shield sits an armorial helmet. Above the helmets is the tip of an arrow or spear flanked by a set of wings.
"Inomnia Paradus" -- The coast guard's motto, "Semper Paradus" translates roughly to, "Always Prepared" Coleman's motto means "Ready for Anything".
Seal press, George Shiffler Council, No. 177, O of IA, Order of Independent Americans. Part of the Nativists Movement. Anti-tax and Anti-immigration.
George Shiffler, a young Nativist was fatally shot at the Nativist Riots of 1844 in Philadelphia during which mobs attacked Irish-americna and Roman Catholic homes and businesses.
