A Roman bronze Aucissa fibula brooch. The highly arched bow is decorated with ridges containing a band of notches and is complete with the original hinged pin and a patina typical of river finds.
 
Roman: 1st century AD.
 
Condition: Very Fine with patches of dark accretions.
Height 4.5 cms (1.8 ins).
 
Provenance: Property of an Austrian private collector since the 1970s.
 
For similar examples of the type see 502-505; Iron-age and Other Brooches; Richard Hattatt.
 
These fibulae were particularly popular in military contexts and are considered a typical soldier's brooch. Many recovered Aucissa fibulae have the word 'AVCISSA' incised to the head, hence the type name, and thought to be the name of a workshop where many were produced. Other examples found do feature other decoration, including incised linear or zig-zag motifs. The popularity and use declined from around 60 AD.