Description:

Roman, late Imperial Period, ca. 3rd to 4th century CE. A finely cast leaded bronze bread stamp of a rectangular form with a face that bears an inscription - IORIOTO / CVRNVTV. Given the neat arrangement as well as the legibility of the letters, this stamp was made for a high-quality bakery. During the Roman era, bakeries were required to stamp their bread with an individual seal in order to trace the source of the loaves and to prevent fraud or theft of imperial supplies. The text on this stamp, though untranslated, perhaps identifies the individual baker or perhaps the specific bakery. Size: 2.5" W x 1.125" H (6.4 cm x 2.9 cm)

Provenance: ex Estate of Eldert Bontekoe, Pegasi Numismatics, Ann Arbor, Michigan USA acquired before 2000

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#158472

  • Condition: Minor surface wear, but the inscription is still strong and the stamp is intact and generally excellent. The leaded bronze has developed an attractive green patina over the ages.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

September 22, 2020 10:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000