Roman Medallic Plaque

Sale: Triton XIII, Lot: 1398. Estimate $3000.  Closing Date: Monday, 4 January 2010.  Sold For $4500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PISIDIA, Antiochia. Circa 3rd century AD. Æ Decorative Plaque. Dimensions: 183 mm in diameter, 8 mm in thickness, 1479.85 g in weight. Heavy round cast bronze plaque, with signum within distyle aedicula with arched pediment; S R (Senatus Romae) flanking aedicula; all within stylized wreath consisting of three concentric sections of zig-zag pattern. VF, rough green patina with a few light scrapes on the reverse, slightly bent .

This heavy plaque was used to decorate some Roman military object, possibly the sacellum that housed the legion’s signa. The S R inscription is characteristically associated with the Roman colonia of Antioch in Pisidia, and can be seen on its bronze coinage, issued between the reigns of Gordian III and Claudius II Gothicus (cf. SNG von Aulock 4968-87).