Late Roman / Byzantine bread stamp

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Description

ITEMBread stamp in form of a crescent moon with greek inscription ‘XPHCTE / OINIΛ’
MATERIALBronze
CULTURELate Roman / Byzantine
PERIOD4th – 6th Century A.D
DIMENSIONS60 mm x 65 mm
CONDITIONGood condition
PROVENANCEEx English private collection, acquired in the 1990s
DESCRIPTIONA bronze bread stamp in form of a crescent moon with a greek inscription. The base has the letters in retrograde relief.It was used to indicate the producer, or to attest to the magistrate responsible for their production. This could be particularly important in cases where bread was being distributed to the people as a political act.