Roman Bronze Amulet of Mercury

Code: 10461

This is a nice Romano British bronze amulet of the god Mercury, dating to the 2nd - 3rd century A.D. The figurine is fully sculpted in the round, in a good classical pose. He is depicted holding a caduceus wand and a bag of monies. The detail is good, with some wear due to rubbing. Such an amulet would have been worn to secure patronage from this god of financial gain, commerce, eloquence (and thus poetry), messages, communication (including divination), travelers, boundaries, luck...

OBJECT: Amulet

CULTURE: Roman

DATE: c. 2nd century A.D.

MATERIAL: Bronze

SIZE: 43mm x 19mm x 11mm

WEIGHT: 18.4 grams

PROVENANCE: Ex. Private Collection, Cambridge.