Bronze Military Diploma for Cavalryman (23 March AD 178)

[guy]

Here's a fascinating item that recently sold for $58,750:

 

http://coins.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=3021&lotNo=21401

 

(You must be logged on, then, click to see the image):

 

 

Marcus Aurelius Diploma, Units In Britain

Marcus Aurelius and Commodus (AD 177-180). Bronze Military Diploma for Cavalryman Sisceius, Dated 23 March AD 178. Intact first tablet with two binding holes sat the center and a hinge hole at the lower left corner. The lettering on the outer face is well engraved and is wholly legible. The date, names of consuls and details of the recipient and his unit and commander have been added in larger lettering. The interior side of the plaque partially repeats the exterior text, but with less well-rendered characters and with many abbreviations and omissions. An important diploma naming auxiliary units in Britain. Beautifully patinated.

 

Published: Roxan and Holder, Roman Military Diplomas IV (BICS Supplement 82), no. 294.

 

After serving twenty-five years in the Roman auxiliary units, a soldier was granted his Roman citizenship as well as the legalization of his existing or future marriage. Numerous cavalrymen and infantrymen were discharged simultaneously and, while a listing of those discharged was posted in Rome, each individual soldier was provided with a diploma which served as portable evidence of his citizenship rights and no doubt was preserved as an important legal document by its recipient and his descendants. A second plaque, completing the interior text and listing the names of witnesses, would have been bound to the first by wire brads through the central holes

 

Transcription:

 

IMP CAE DIVI ANTONI FIL DIVI VERI PARTHI MAX FRAT DIVI H

 

DRIAN NE DIVI TRAIAN PATHICI PRONE DIVI NERVAE ABN

 

M AVRELI ANTONIN AVG GERM SAR PONT MAXI TR

 

POT XXXIII

[Bryaxis Hecatee]

What makes me rather sad is the fact this web site does not seems to give proveniance, recent history, and gives a single publication (although a rather good one) for the object. So it does not allow one to see if it's been illegaly dug, for how long it's been known, or anything else of the sort, things that anyone should check before spending even a pfenig on an ancient piece.

[Melvadius]

The provenance is there.

 

Published: Roxan and Holder, Roman Military Diplomas IV (BICS Supplement 82), no. 294.

 

IIRC this should give more details although probably not who has owned it since it was found.