Not an arm or armour, but maybe you can help
 

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

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

belt plate? horse harness decoration (horse brass)?

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

disregard

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 ).

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

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

"...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.