Roman Silver Pendant with Phallic

With stepped profile to the rectangular vow, pelletted bars and beast-head finials; pin, pin-lugs and pierced catchplate to the underside. 10.5 grams, 45 mm



From the collection of a High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, UK, gentleman, circa 2000.

The upper part of a Beneficiarius dedicatory spear or sceptre, comprising a circular-section shaft with an ivy leaf finial, a crescent (lunula) below and the point with triple acorn-shaped spheres; the lower end of the shaft square-section and with a rosette for attaching it to the wooden part, engraved with X-motifs and circumferential lines. 62 grams, 49 cm



Found Cambridgeshire, UK. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The beneficiarii, within the Roman army, were soldiers exempted from menial duties and acting as orderlies of senior officers; they were also charged with particular duties by governors and generals. Their distinctive insignia were decorated spears, often with a point shaped like an ivy leaf. The military stela from Perinth depicting a 3rd century beneficiarius shows a very similar spear, mounted over a particular structure on the midshaft of the spear.

With onion-knop terminals, carinated bow with linear decoration and a separate collar to the base of the bow; wide footplate with pellet decoration; catch-plate and repaired pin to the reverse. 78.6 grams, 92 mm



Found UK. Acquired from Stonegate Antiques, York, 2008. Property of a Nottinghamshire gentleman.