Silver, 8.35 grams, 149.34 mm. 1st-4th century AD. A Roman ligula comprising a long round-section shaft with flattened, square-section terminal and shallow bowl. Beneath the junction of the bowl and shaft are three incised lines forming a collar, and the upper and lower faces of the terminal bear panels of incised decoration: transverse lines, heavy cross-hatching and finer cross-hatching sequentially. The purpose of the ligula was for eating delicacies in small quantities. Reference: Read, B. Metal Artefacts of Antiquity, Langport, 2001, p.95 item 708. Extremely fine condition. Provenance: from an old English collection.