ROMAN. Uncertain, circa second half of 3rd century. Seal (Lead, 14 mm, 3.64 g). Bare-headed and draped male bust to right. Rev. Blank. Unpublished in the standard references. Very fine.

Numerous personal seals that feature the portrait of the owner date to late Roman and early Byzantine times. Some of these carry the names of their owners, but many have fragmentary legends or are, like the present example, anepigraphic. These seals portray individuals who must have belonged to the upper strata of the Roman aristocracy, but except for a few pieces of lead these people's existence is now long forgotten. Therefore, these pieces attract a special kind of fascination