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Owner's mark

Summary: The inscription identifies the sheet as the owner's mark, which the soldier Dasius Masurus used to mark one of his pieces of equipment. The mention of the emperor could mean that Commodus (180-192 AD) gave the object in question to Dasius.
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Post type: Object

Epoch: Roman Empire

Topic: image and writing, Weapons, militaria and hunting

Exhibition venue: Römerkastell Saalburg

Place of discovery: Saalburg Castle, Taunus

Date: 180 – 192 AD

Material: Bronze

Dimensions:

Length 3.8cm
Width 2.0cm

Inventory number: SB 276

Description

The small bronze sheet bears the punched inscription:

IMP(eratore) COM(odo) AUG(usto)

COH(ortis) XXXII VOL(untariorum)

C(enturiae) VICTO(—)DASIVES

MASVRI

“By Emperor Commodus (gifted), (Property) of Dasius Masurus from Victor's century, from the 32nd volunteer cohort“

The inscription identifies the sheet as the owner's mark, which the soldier Dasius Masurus used to mark one of his pieces of equipment. The mention of the emperor could mean that Commodus (180-192 AD) gave the object in question to Dasius. There are further references to Commodus donating weapons to the Taunus and Wetteraulimes, which may be related to the suppression of the Maternus Uprising in 185/186 AD by troops loyal to the emperor.