In 1935 Landon stated that there were no impressions left of the Exchequer seal, considering it to be a particularly sad loss since otherwise the first known impression of such a seal dates to as late as Edward I.³⁴ However, Mason and Bray’s 1988 catalogue of charters at Westminster Abbey records that the seal attached to a writ dated 26 January [1190] and issued at Westminster under the hand of Longchamp whilst the king was out of the country may have been the Exchequer seal of Richard I.³⁵ This is indeed the case.

The seal is uncoloured and smaller than the great seal (Fig. 7.7). Unfortunately, only a central pitted fragment remains but enough to distinguish it in design from its contemporary, Richard’s first great seal. It depicts on the obverse the king in majesty seated on a throne and wearing a tight-fitting tunic. It appears from the fragment that a mantle is draped over his right shoulder and runs across the front of the king’s body; this is similar to the second great seal of his father, but unlike either of Richard’s great seals. In his right hand Richard holds a sword; no details remain of what he holds in his left hand – presumably it was an orb. A plant spray, similar to those on the first great seal, survive in the field of the seal. A star and crescent may have appeared over the king’s shoulders – we cannot tell because of damage to the seal – but, if they did they would have been much smaller and less prominent than on the first great seal; hence, perhaps their omission from Pouncey’s engraving. The throne is different from those depicted in Richard’s two great seals. As in Pouncey’s illustration the arms on each side of the throne come straight up and do not splay out at the top. There is also a distinctive saltire-like design on the back panelling of the throne.