Ancient Roman, Empire Stone 古代ローマの刻印石重量／「AVG」と刻まれたテセラ

Ancient Roman Inscribed Stone Weight / Tessera with “AVG”
Roman Imperial Period, circa 1st–3rd century AD

Material: Stone
Weight: 44.5 g
Dimensions: 48.9 × 48.4 × 9.8 mm

From a Private European Collection.

A fascinating and highly unusual Ancient Roman stone object of substantial circular form, prominently engraved on one side with the letters AVG.

The inscription is of particular historical interest. AVG represents the well-known Roman abbreviation of AVG(ustus), the imperial title introduced with Augustus and subsequently forming one of the principal titles of the Roman emperors. Abbreviations of this kind occur throughout Roman imperial epigraphy and on a wide range of official, administrative and personal objects.

The purpose of this remarkable piece is particularly intriguing. Its substantial size, weight and carefully shaped stone body suggest that it may have served as a weight, tessera, administrative token or control/ownership marker. Stone weights and marked objects formed part of the practical world of Roman commerce and administration, where inscriptions, symbols and abbreviations could identify standards, authorities or ownership.

Especially noteworthy is the material. Unlike the much more familiar lead tesserae and tokens, this object is fashioned from stone, giving it a distinctive appearance and considerable physical presence. The boldly incised AVG inscription remains clearly visible, while the opposite surface is largely plain. The irregular circumference, surface texture and traces of age give the object a particularly attractive archaeological character.

The connection with AVG(ustus) gives the piece an immediate association with the language of Roman imperial authority. Although the inscription cannot by itself be attributed specifically to the first emperor Augustus, rather than to the later imperial title Augustus, it represents a fascinating survival of the terminology at the very heart of Roman imperial power.

An unusual and highly evocative Roman inscribed object, combining an enigmatic practical function with one of the most recognisable abbreviations of the Roman Empire. A particularly interesting piece for a collection of Roman weights, tesserae, inscribed objects or Imperial-period antiquities.

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