275 - Roman Iron Pugio Dagger. Circa 3rd century A.D. Leaf-shaped wide blade with a narrow waist, a thick crossbar and a lozenge-section handle with a double-lobed pommel; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. See Bishop, M.C. & Coulston, J.C.N., Roman military equipment, from the Punic wars to the fall of Rome, London, 1993; Bishop, M. C. & Coulston, J.C.N., Roman military equipment from the Punic Wars to the fall of Rome, London, 2006; Iba ez, F.C., Post Vestigium Exercitus. Militaria romana en la regi n septentrional de la Pen nsula Ib rica durante la poca Altoimperial in Morillo, A. (ed.), Actas del II Congreso de Arqueolog a Militar Romana en Hispania. Universidad de Le n-Ayuntamiento de Le n, Le n, 2006, pp.257-308; Casprini, F., Saliola, M., Pugio gladius brevis est, storia e tecnologia del pugnale da guerra romano, Roma, 2012. 772 grams total including stand, dagger: 343 grams, 37 cm (14 1/2 in.).

Roman Iron Pugio Dagger. Circa 3rd century A.D. Leaf-shaped wide blade with a narrow waist, a thick crossbar and a lozenge-section handle with a double-lobed pommel; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. See Bishop, M.C. & Coulston, J.C.N., Roman military equipment, from the Punic wars to the fall of Rome, London, 1993; Bishop, M. C. & Coulston, J.C.N., Roman military equipment from the Punic Wars to the fall of Rome, London, 2006; Iba ez, F.C., Post Vestigium Exercitus. Militaria romana en la regi n septentrional de la Pen nsula Ib rica durante la poca Altoimperial in Morillo, A. (ed.), Actas del II Congreso de Arqueolog a Militar Romana en Hispania. Universidad de Le n-Ayuntamiento de Le n, Le n, 2006, pp.257-308; Casprini, F., Saliola, M., Pugio gladius brevis est, storia e tecnologia del pugnale da guerra romano, Roma, 2012. 772 grams total including stand, dagger: 343 grams, 37 cm (14 1/2 in.). Spanish collection, German auction, 1980s. Ex John Lawton private collection, Surrey, UK. Accompanied by a copy of a previous illustrated catalogue page, including provenance This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.13495-263284. This dagger belongs to the last period of evolution of the Roman type III pugio, and to the blade types of the III period, according to the Saliola-Casprini classification (Saliola-Casprini, 2012, nos.45,54). Compared to the previous types of the 1st century A.D., the slender, lanceolate blade shows a considerable size, up to 45 cm long or longer, with a plain appearance and no decoration, even on the scabbard, when preserved. TimeLine Auctions follows a rigorous vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists. See our website for more information.