Published Fragment of a Rare Military Diploma of a Praetorian

Culture: Roman

Period: February 204 A.D.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 5 cm x 4.9 cm

Price: 1 600 Euro

Ref: 3604

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

Condition: Slightly bent, unrestored.

Description: Fragment of a rare Praetorian diploma dating to the period of Emperor Septimius Severus. It is the upper right corner part of Tabella A. The certificate is to be dated to the annual range between 10 December 203 to 9 December 204 due to the preserved number of the "Tribunicia Potestas" of the Emperor, namely XII in the sixth row. Since the award to the Praetorians normally takes place in February the dating to February 204 is very possible. On the outside nine rows of the constitution are preserved, which can be completely complemented (see publication by Peter Weiß in "Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik Band 134", 2001, pages 269-270. Inside nine rows from the more elusive inscription are also preserved and well readable. At the bottom left soldering material is preserved, with which the diploma was sealed. The present diploma is the earliest known diploma of a Praetorian dating to the period of Septimius Severus and the first one since 184 A.D. In addition to the publication mentioned above, the diploma was also published with Paul Holder "Roman Military Diplomas V", 2006, p. 883, No 452.