Published Fragment of a Military Diploma from the Reign of Emperor Hadrian

Culture: Roman

Period: 1 May - 9 December 121 A.D.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 5.8 cm x 8 cm

Price: Sold

Ref: 3751

Provenance: From the German collection of Peter Weiß, acquired between 1967 and 2015.

Condition: Very well preserved.

Description: Upper right corner of Tabella I of a Roman military diploma, with a preserved binding hole and an extremely finely engraved inscription. The document dates to the reign of Emperor Hadrian and originates from the province of Moesia Inferior. The precise dating between May and December 121 A.D. is derived from the imperial title „proconsul”, used here by the emperor and indicating his absence from Italy. At the end of April 121, Hadrian is documented as still being in Rome; shortly thereafter, he departed for Gaul and Britain. Of particular interest is the surviving list of troops, with nine still identifiable units listed on the diploma. The provincial governor is also named and, based on the preserved letters, can be identified as C. Ummidius Quadratus Sertorius Severus. For further discussion, see the publication of the fragment in: Peter Weiß, “Militärdiplome für Moesia,” in: Chiron 38, 2008, no. 10, pp. 296-300.