ROMAN SEAL

250

A Roman lead alloy seal impression, probably dating c. AD 180-35. The seal is oval with an image on one side only. The image is that of three busts, the outer most facing inwards, with a line underneath. There appears to be writing below but this is difficult to discern due to damage. The seal is in two pieces. On the back are traces of textile impressions from where the seal was attached to cloth.The clearest portrait does have the appearance of Commodus (AD 177-92), possibly with his empress Crispina facing. The third head appears to be male (possibly Hercules, the Comes of Commodus). However, it is also possible that the piece is Severan, the cleares head being Caracalla, Geta, Elagabalus or Severus Alexander, with a combination of other rulers and empresses.Several examples of seals with three busts are found in (Still, 1995, 194), though due to the wear on this example it is difficult to pin down even further.Dimensions: length: 22.35 mm; width: 15.83 mm; thickness: 3.31 mm; weight: 5.24g.