Not an arm or armour, but maybe you can help

[AHorsa]

Hello,

I just received this french ground find. Diameter is 4cm and it seems to be made of bronze. It is showing the counterfeit of a 17th cent. person. Does anyone of you have an idea what this could be/was used for?

Cheers
Andreas

[Jim McDougall]

Maybe posting this in the 'miscellania' forum might be better suited ?

[kronckew]

belt plate? horse harness decoration (horse brass)?

[kahnjar1]

Maybe a seal for using with sealing wax? Frankly I have no idea but just a suggestion.
Stu

[A. G. Maisey]

disregard

[A Senefelder]

I have no idea what this is but thought it odd that the two holes were punched from opposite sides, one punched front to back, one punched back to front ( as shown by the remnants of the cone created by driving a sharp implement through the metal ).

[Oliver Pinchot]

Appears to depict Leopold I Holy Roman Emperor (1640-1705)
also knows as "Hogmouth" for his distinctive Habsburg chin.

[AHorsa]

Thanks for the answers!
Yes, those holes seem to be drilled unprofessional through the metal. VBut in old times before it landed in the ground.
@ Oliver: Possible, but I´m afraid the many noble persons of this time looked like that.

There is a rest of some connection or the like left on the left side (picture of the back). Maybe this can give a hint...

Thanks and best regards
Andreas

[Dave T.]

"...thought it odd that the two holes were punched from opposite sides, one punched front to back, one punched back to front ( as shown by the remnants of the cone created by driving a sharp implement through the metal )."

I think I see the reason for the holes coming from different directions. The design on the disc is repousse work, where the thin metal is hammered from the back side to create a raised design. If one tried to drill or punch a hole where there was a hollow under the thin metal it would distort the design. You would flip the piece whichever way would put the thin metal directly against a firm backing surface (like a block of wood or lead) before you tried to punch a hole at that spot. The hole on the left was in a depressed area of the design, so it could be punched without flipping the disc onto its face.