‡ Votive text, in Latin, punched with dots into thin gold plate [probably England, 3rd century AD.]

‡ Votive text appealing to Victoria Augusta, perhaps in the name of a Roman auxiliary stationed in England and named Aufilius or Aufidius, in Latin, in Roman Capitals punched with dots into thin gold plate[probably England (perhaps Roman fort of Lanchester/Longovicium, near Durham in northern England), third century AD. (perhaps c. 270)] Thin gold plate, cut to ansate form (ie. shape of a square with a rhomboidal wing on each upright side, a shape designed for suspension), with the text "VICTORI/AE AVG/ AVF FIDI/ VS [for 'filius'].../ D D." punched into its surface in Roman Capitals using a series of dots, other dots added to 'wings' for decorative affect, three holes pierced along upper edge most probably for suspension, some traces of dents and slight damage to extremities, else excellent condition, 37 by 56mm.; in custom made glass case, within fitted blue-cloth covered case A Romano-British inscription on the rarest and most alluring of writing materials to survive from the Ancient world: gold Provenance: 1. Probably created for a high-ranking Roman auxiliary perhaps named Aufilius or Aufidius (appeals to Victoria Augusta are most commonly found on items made for the Roman military or from military sites), who appears to have been stationed in Lanchester, near Durham (see below). Such inscriptions are highly formulaic, and so we can be certain that the opening line contains a dedication to Victoria Augusta, and the last line contains the standard formula "D[ono] D[edit]" ('gave this as a gift'). Following this the first part of the central two lines might convincingly be read as "AUF[ilius/idius] FILI/US ..." (with the 'L' in the second word mistruck as an apparent 'D') and the remaining word identifying his father too abbreviated or garbled to be extrapolated here.2. Reportedly found as a stray find in vicinity of Lanchester, near Durham, in the 1940s. Lanchester (Roman Longovicium) was the site of a substantial Roman auxiliary fort on Dere Street (the Roman road connecting York to Hadrian's Wall) in the province of Britannia Inferior. The site is mentioned in both the Ravenna Cosmography and the Notitia Dignitatum. An unusually large number of altars, dedication slabs and a milestone set on the adjacent sections of Dere Street allow us to conclude that the fort was built by the Twentieth Legion, probably around 150 AD. It seems to have been the subject of rebuilding in the middle of the third century and the fourth century. At the time this object was made, stone inscriptions identify the fort as manned by Celts from the Plateau de Langres in the Bourgogne region of Gaul, near Dijon, the Cohors Primae Lingonum (First Cohort of Lingones) and the Cohors Primae Lingonum Gordiana equitata (First Cohort of Lingones, Gordian's own, part mounted), as well as a detachment of Suebians from Lusitania.3. Lennox Gallery, London, in 1996, and sold then to the present owner.4. Schøyen Collection, London and Oslo, their MS 2344. Text: While far from common, Roman metalwork objects with punched dot inscriptions are known from diverse objects, including a bronze dog or slave collar, with the inscription "Tene me ne fugio" ('Hold me, lest I flee), offered in Bonhams, 30 September 2014, lot 383, as well as small votive offerings such as the present piece. Close parallels for this item can be found in the holdings of the Ashmolean and York Museum (H4.1-2, from the Old Railway Station site, with a Greek inscription including the personal name Demetrius), but those are on more common metals such as bronze. The use of gold here suggests the wealth and influence of its original owner, and it was perhaps produced for attachment to a statue of a deity. Published:Y. Petrina, 'Kanopos oder Menoutis? Zur Identifikation einer Ruinenstätte in der Bucht von Abuqir', KLIO 90 (2008), p. 205.