Gold Appliqué With Magical Symbols. Roman, 1st-4th Century Ad.

A gold appliqué with magical symbols.

Roman, 1st-4th Century AD.

Diameter: 1.95cm.

Weight: 0.5 grams.

The little gold roundel, is decorated with esoteric magical symbols to include a winged phallus, a scorpion, a snake, a dog / wolf, a squirrel(?) and a fish / dolphin. The reverse of the plaque is set with a small loop for attachment. The loop is an old / ancient addition as it appears to be piercing the all seeing eye which can be seen in the centre of a similar example in the British Museum, Museum number: 1814,0704.1172.

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1814-0704-1172

Johns Hopkins Archeological Museum, Baltimore has an example (Accession Number: 485 (formerly FIC.07.225) which has been dated to the 2nd Century AD.

https://archaeologicalmuseum.jhu.edu/class-projects/archaeology-of-daily-life/jewelry/gold-amulet-pendant/

A further example can be found in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum, New York (Object Number: 74.51.3663), although this is dated to the 4th century BCE.

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/243081

Provenance: Private English Collection, assembled between the late 1970s and early 1990s.