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LOT 0705
Late Roman Double-Sided Bulla with Inscription
4TH-5TH CENTURY A.D.
2 1/4 in. (165 grams, 58 mm).
A bronze discoid bulla, cut from a larger bronze plaque in antiquity with fragments of Greek inscription; Side A: 'ΦΛΑ [..]/ΟΥΙΑC/ YΟΠΠΗC[..]'; Side B: '[..]N[..]ENΤΙΟΥ/EΠΙCΚOΠΟΥ'.
ProvenanceAcquired 1969-1999.
London collection of the late S.M., thence by descent.
See Entwistle, C., ‘The Early Byzantine weights from Kunszenmarton, Hungary’ in Acta Archaeologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, Budapest, 67 (2016), pp.287-300, nos.2, 5, for eastern Roman round weight examples.
FootnotesThe bulla probably belonged to a bishop, probably to a certain Vinkentios (N[..]ENΤΙΟΥ/EΠΙCΚOΠΟΥ = of Vincentius Bishop) and as well as a woman named Flavia from Joppa (ΦΛΑ [..]/ΟΥΙΑC/ YΟΠΠΗC), probably his servant. It could have been used as a weight or as a personal sign to fulfil various activities in the name of the owner.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0705
Late Roman Double-Sided Bulla with Inscription
Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
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Roman Iron Ring with Eros Riding a Dolphin Gemstone
2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £195
An iron finger ring with inset burnt white stone cloison bearing intaglio of Eros riding a dolphin. 9.42 grams, 20.30 mm overall, 13.82 x 16.27 mm internal diameter (approximate size British H, USA 3 3/4, Europe 6.18, Japan 6)
Fine condition.
Acquired 1970's. Ex UK collection. Property of a Portsmouth, UK gentleman. -
Romano-Egyptian Silver Snake Ring
1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £195
A slender silver ring in the form of a coiled flat-headed cobra with punched head and scale detailing. 5.03 grams, 27.56 mm overall, 22.13 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Z, USA 12 1/2, Europe 28.77, Japan 27)
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK. -
Roman Phallic Amulet
3rd-4th century A.D. or laterEstimate: £100 - 140 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £50
A bronze phallic amulet composed of a hollowed truncated conical socket, with a curved arm to each side, one ending in a phallic shape, the other ending with a closed fist. 26.1 grams, 55 mm
Acquire in the 1990s. Ex Cambridgeshire, UK, collection.
Roman phallic amulets are represented by many examples preserved in museums and private collections, with a vast variety of types. This specimen belongs to category of double phallus, even if one of the male attributes is here represented as a fist. These amulets were worn as a wish for fertility and virile power, often hung on horses as harness pendants.
