Due to custom regulations we can not ship outside the E.U. Please make sure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. A fine cast late Roman to Byzantine bronze stamp / seal for bread. Rare design with a monogram, complete with integral looped handle on the reverse. Size: ± 34 x 31,6 mm Condition: good and solid quality, appealing dark patina. Signs of wear consistent with age and use. See images. Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format). During the Roman Imperial period, bakeries were legally required to stamp their bread with a unique seal to trace the source and prevent theft of military rations. In the Byzantine Empire, bread stamps evolved and were used by private individuals, as a sign of ownership, for religious purposes and for organising. They appear in a great variety of shapes, inscriptions and symbols. In the Roman and Byzantine Empire ovens were used by multiple people at the same time. Stamping the dough before baking helped to identify the owner of the finished bread.