Signaculum of Caius Valerius Avitus

Bronze circular signaculum discovered at the Roman villa of Els Munts near Tarraco. Measuring 6.7 cm in diameter, the seal bears a retrograde inscription reading C(ai) Valeri Aviti / Augus / tobri / ga, identifying its owner as Caius Valerius Avitus of Augustobriga. The object is one of the rare Roman personal seals to include both the owner’s name and place of origin. Avitus was a wealthy landowner from Augustobriga who, according to an inscription from Tarraco, was transferred to the colony by order of Emperor Antoninus Pius and later served as duovir. The seal provides direct evidence of…