Ancient Roman Silver Gladius amulet pendant
17
days
07
hours
03
minutes
52
seconds
Current bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 210 - € 250
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Ancient Roman silver gladius amulet pendant, about 38.3 mm long, in good solid condition with the original suspension ring, dating to the 1st–3rd century AD, acquired in 2025 from a dealer at a fair in the Netherlands.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Ancient Roman silver amulet pendant formed as a miniature sword (gladius). The blade is long and tapering with a central ridge running along its length and terminating in a sharp point. The upper section widens slightly to suggest a simplified guard and hilt, above which the original silver suspension loop allows the pendant to be worn on a cord or chain.
-> Miniature weapon pendants were worn throughout the Roman world as personal amulets. Such objects symbolised strength, protection, and martial power, reflecting the importance of military culture within Roman society.
-> Small representations of weapons such as swords, daggers, and axes are known from Roman contexts and were often worn as symbolic talismans, possibly intended to invoke protection or the virtues associated with Roman soldiers.
Length: ± 38,3 mm (excluding suspension ring)
Condition: good solid condition, wearable and complete with the original suspension ring. Signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (PDF format) for items with a hammer price of €100 or more.
-> A Gladius amulet is one of the most attractive and desirable ancient amulets. These were issued to soldiers in combat.
The Roman Gladius was the primary sword for Roman foot soldiers. Early Roman swords were based on the Greek xiphe. From the 3rd century BC the Romans adopted and improved the swords of the Celtiberians in Hispania (modern-day Spain), known as a 'gladius hispaniensis'.
A Roman Legionair was equipped with a gladius (sword), pugio (dagger), scutum (shield), a pila (javelin).
Gladii were two-edged for cutting and had a tapered point for stabbing. A solid grip was provided by a knobbed hilt added on, possibly with ridges for the fingers. The hilt (capulus) was often ornate.
The gladius was sheathed in a scabbard mounted on a belt or shoulder strap. A centurion wore it on the opposite side as a mark of distinction.
Towards the end of the 2nd century AD and during the 3rd century the spatha gradually replaced the gladius in the Roman Legions.
Material:
This object has been carefully examined for its material and surface characteristics.
Laboratory analysis (e.g. XRF) is not routinely undertaken in private collecting, and destructive testing is avoided as it causes permanent damage to archaeological material.
Before modern hallmarking, gold and silver alloys varied depending on local resources, recycling practices and economic conditions.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Ancient Roman silver amulet pendant formed as a miniature sword (gladius). The blade is long and tapering with a central ridge running along its length and terminating in a sharp point. The upper section widens slightly to suggest a simplified guard and hilt, above which the original silver suspension loop allows the pendant to be worn on a cord or chain.
-> Miniature weapon pendants were worn throughout the Roman world as personal amulets. Such objects symbolised strength, protection, and martial power, reflecting the importance of military culture within Roman society.
-> Small representations of weapons such as swords, daggers, and axes are known from Roman contexts and were often worn as symbolic talismans, possibly intended to invoke protection or the virtues associated with Roman soldiers.
Length: ± 38,3 mm (excluding suspension ring)
Condition: good solid condition, wearable and complete with the original suspension ring. Signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (PDF format) for items with a hammer price of €100 or more.
-> A Gladius amulet is one of the most attractive and desirable ancient amulets. These were issued to soldiers in combat.
The Roman Gladius was the primary sword for Roman foot soldiers. Early Roman swords were based on the Greek xiphe. From the 3rd century BC the Romans adopted and improved the swords of the Celtiberians in Hispania (modern-day Spain), known as a 'gladius hispaniensis'.
A Roman Legionair was equipped with a gladius (sword), pugio (dagger), scutum (shield), a pila (javelin).
Gladii were two-edged for cutting and had a tapered point for stabbing. A solid grip was provided by a knobbed hilt added on, possibly with ridges for the fingers. The hilt (capulus) was often ornate.
The gladius was sheathed in a scabbard mounted on a belt or shoulder strap. A centurion wore it on the opposite side as a mark of distinction.
Towards the end of the 2nd century AD and during the 3rd century the spatha gradually replaced the gladius in the Roman Legions.
Material:
This object has been carefully examined for its material and surface characteristics.
Laboratory analysis (e.g. XRF) is not routinely undertaken in private collecting, and destructive testing is avoided as it causes permanent damage to archaeological material.
Before modern hallmarking, gold and silver alloys varied depending on local resources, recycling practices and economic conditions.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Ancient Roman
Century/timeframe
1st-3rd century AD
Name of object
Gladius amulet pendant
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2025
Material
Silver
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Previous owner - year acquired
2025
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
