zadie Posted February 4 · Member Posted February 4 (edited) Last year I had the opportunity to pick up two very interesting items and whilst I don't really stray outside of coins, these two pieces made too much of an impression on me to ignore. Knowing next to nothing about diplomas before buying them, I was extremely lucky to find both pieces had been studied and published in the definitive journal on the subject, Roman Military Diplomas IV (2003). Domitian (81-96 AD). Roman military diploma, Æ, 37 x 52 mm, 33.41g. Issued in January/February of 85 in the consulate of Domitian and T. Aurelius. SINGVLI - IMP·CAESARE·DO[MITIANO] - T · AV[RELIVS] / C· MVNA[TI] / L· LVCRET[I]. RMD IV, 211 (This piece). Restored legend per Margaret Roxan in Roman Military Diplomas IV: Imp. Caesar, divi Vespasianus f( ilius), Domitianus Augustus Germanicus, pontifex maximus, tribunic(ia) potestat(e) IUI, imp(erator) VIII, p(ater) p(atriae), co(n)s(ul) XI, (auxilia) aut (classis)... quorum nomina subscripta sunt, ipsis liberisque ...duxissent dumtaxat] singuli [singulas.] [a.d. ... ] Imp(eratore) Caesare Do [mitiano Aug(usto) Germanico XI, ], T. Au[relio Fulvo II cos.] (status of recipient) [ ... ] C. Muna[ti ... ]; L. Lucre t[ i ... ]; [ ... ] This fragment originally belonged to a military diploma issued during the first months of 85 AD, when T. Aurelius served as consul ordinarius with Domitian. Roman military diplomas were issued on two distinct tablets, one containing the full constitution and another the names of seven witnesses along with their seals. These tablets would then be connected to each other with wires to form one document. This fragmentary piece preserves the names of Gaius Munatius and Lucius Lucretius, both witnesses to attest that this diploma was authentic. Unfortunately, the name and unit of the recipient has not been preserved. Based on the constitution, this diploma was likely issued to a solder serving in one of Rome's fleets or in an auxiliary unit. Hadrian (117-138). Roman military diploma, Æ, 51 x 38 mm, 21.58 g. Issued in sometime between 118 and 138 AD. IMP·CAESAR[...] - [NER]VAE NEPOS - [..]FEX MAXIM[..] / IMP·CA - DIVI NER - ANVS AV - TRIBVN - IIS·QVI MIL - TORIA·MI. RMD IV, 257 (This piece). Restored legend per Margaret Roxan in Roman Military Diplomas IV: Imp. Caesar, [divi Traiani Parthici f.], divi Nervae nepos, [Traianus Hadri]anus Au[g(ustus), [ponti]fex maxim[us], tribun(icia) [potest(ate)..., co(n)s(ul) II/aut III?, p(ater) p(atriae)?] iis qui m[ilitant/-ilitaverunt in classe prae]toria Mi[senensi quae est sub ... This fragment belonged to a diploma issued during the reign of Hadrian to a sailor of the fleet at Misene. Dating it to Hadrian is clear by the use of "[NERV]AE NEPOS" (Grandson of Nerva) on the inner side of the diploma. Narrowing it down further than that however is unlikely. I'll leave you with an extraordinarily complete specimen from the Muzej Brodskog Posavlja in Croatia, fully preserving the seals of the seven witnesses: Edited February 4 by zadie 20 1 1 3 1 2 Quote
zadie Posted July 21 · Member Author Posted July 21 (edited) Added a new military diploma to the collection. This time a tiny little fragment with just a few words preserved, none of which are complete. Unknown. Time of Trajan-Antoninus Pius (?). Roman military diploma, Æ. 3.49 g. T·MI / OSTEA - NGVL - TIO. Restored legend to the best of my ability and with great help from friends (but definitely not conclusive!): Inner face: [XXV (XXVI) stipendiis emeritis dimissis hones]t(a) mi[ssione] Translation: after twenty-five (or twenty-six) years of service, having been honorably discharged... Outer face: [qvas p]ostea [dvxissent dvmtaxat si]ngvl[i singvlas ad (...day and month)] (...)tio [consvlibvs] Translation: [...they] later [married, insofar as] each has only one (wife). [...day and month] in the consulship of] [...]TIO Edited July 21 by zadie 7 1 Quote
zadie Posted December 2 · Member Author Posted December 2 (edited) A new fragment in the collection. I have not yet been able to reconstruct the text on the inner face (the "obverse"). Roman Military Diploma. Fragment, Issued after 138 AD. Inner face: // //// /// Outer face: [EM]ER D[IMISSIS HONESTA MISSIONE QVARVM NOMINA SVBS]CRIP(TA) SVN[T] CIVITATEM ROMANAM QVI EORVM NO]N HABER(ENT)] DEDIT ET CONVBIVM CVM VXORIBVS QVAS TVN]C HAB[VISSENT CVM EST CIVITAS IIS DATA AVT CVM IIS QVAS POSTEA DVXISSENT DVMTAXAT SINGVLIS] Translation: (recipient having) been honorably discharged, whose name is written below, is given Roman citizenship if they did not already have it, and marriage with the wife they had when citizenship was given to them, or with those whom they married later, insofar as each has only one (wife). Edited December 3 by zadie 6 Quote
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