Granville Gray, of Richmond, and was there identified by its makers. The following attested certificate is attached to the seal in its case at the Museum:
"2 Langham Chambers, Portland Place
"London, W.
"Allen G. Wyon, medallist and
"Engraver to his Majesty the
"King
"I have carefully examined the seal sent to me by Mr. Thomas P. Bryan, an impression of which is affixed above, together with the hall marks thereon and the engraving on the rim. I have also compared it with the wax impression which has never left my studio, and I have no hesitation in stating that in my opinion there is no doubt that the seal which I have examined is the Great Seal of the Confederate States of America which was engraved in silver by my uncle, Mr. J. S. Wyon, in the year 1864.
The certificate is accompanied with a wax imprint of the seal and a copy of the original imprint, still in the file of the makers—J. S. and A. B. Wyon, of London.
Production of the seal itself with full proof of its genuineness forever sets at rest the weird story told by James Jones, colored, who claims to have been the coachman of President Jefferson Davis, that the Great Seal was in his possession; and an equally unauthenticated rumor, which was widely current at the time of the Confederate Reunion in Richmond in 1907, that the key to the mystery which surrounded the existence of the seal was in the cornerstone of the Confederate Monument in Macon, Georgia. There were even suggestions that the stone be removed in order that the relic might be traced.
The fact now appears to be fully authenticated from original records, as well as by the production of the seal itself, that it was taken from Richmond on the night of the evacuation by
