Late Roman Signaculum with Monogram

4th-6th century AD. A substantial Roman signaculum composed of two inverted Greek letters P (Rho) and E (Epsilon), forming a monogram, linked on the back by a thick bronze ring. See Baratta, G., 'Roman Signacula / Una particolare categoria di signacula: marchi per legno, pellame ed animali', in Mayer M., Olive, G., Baratta, G., Guzman Almagro A.(ed.), XII Congressus Internationalis Epigraphiae Grecae et Latinae, Barcelona, 2007, pp.99-108, fig.3 for similar stamps. 117 grams, 64mm (2 1/2"). Property of a gentleman from Vienna; from his private collection; previously acquired in Munich, Germany, between 1992 and 1996. Branding stamps or signacula, in particular those with large single letters, were used for livestock marking on equine, cattle, sheep, camelids etc; marks were affixed to identify the property, the breed, the quality and others features of the animal. Usually stamps were attached to a bronze shaft, and could have been composed of a cartouche or letters bearing the text of the stamp. For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the hammer price [No Reserve]
Condition Report: Fine condition.