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LOT 1525
Roman Lead Slingshot of Quintus Sertorius
CIRCA 82-72 B.C.
1 1/2 in. (59.6 grams, 37 mm).
Lentoid in form with raised legend to reverse 'Q.SERT / PRO C'; casting seam and flange. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired on the UK art market, early 2000s.
Property of a London, UK, antiquarian.
Cf. Welch, K., Magnus Pius, Sextus Pompeius and the Transformation of the Roman Republic, 2012, fig.16, no.23 and p.113, for glandes of Sertorius with a similar inscription.
FootnotesThe inscription may refer to Quintus Sertorius, the Roman statesman and general (123-72 BC). In late 82 BC, Sertorius, linked to the party of populares of Gaius Marius, was proscribed by Sulla and forced from his province in Hispania. However, he soon returned in early 80 BC, representing himself as a Roman proconsul resisting the Sullan regime at Rome. Being Proconsul in this Hispania from 82 to 73 B.C., the slingshots of his army were bearing the inscription 'Q.SERT / PRO C' (Quintus Sertorius Proconsul).
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
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Scythian Iron Wide-Bladed Sword with Engraved Decoration
6th-5th century B.C.Estimate: £2,000 - 3,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £750
Double-edged blade with a triangular point and squared shoulders, vertical ornamental lines on both sides of the blade, strong hilt with an engraved wave-like decoration on one side. 603 grams, 68 cm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13300-257655.
From the 7th century B.C., the Scythian sword appears to be a two-edged, almost parallel-sided blade tapering towards the point, about 50-60 cm long, rarely reaching 70 cm in length. The present sword can be considered to be a particular type of Scythian akinakes, with strong influences from the Urartian Caucasian culture. The sword is very similar to an example from the Haimanova Mohyla barrow, and the hilt is similar to an example visible on the relief from the Yubilejnoe settlement (Lifanti-Shelekhan, 2022 figs.8,11), where swords of the Sindo-Maeotian type are depicted.
