Roman Ingots

Lead Ingots from the Mines of Britannia, Germania and Hispania were all sent to a market in Rome, where they were sold and exported all over the Empire.

Metal was the Property of the State (The Emperor).
The Mines were run by a Franchisee who paid the State a Lump Sum, then had to recover his Investment.
The Finished Products – ie, Lead Ingots, were stamped with the Emperors’ Stamp and sent to Rome.
Lead Ingots have been found at Docksides in both London and Arles awaiting transhipment.
It seems the Mines in the West, sent the Ingots to Rome where it was exported anywhere in the Empire.
There was probably a commodities market in Rome, where the State sold the Ingots it received.

LONDON, BRITANNIA LEAD INGOT: (In the Museum of London)
- “IMP VESPASIAN AVG” (on top) Meaning: “EMPEROR VESPASIAN AUGUSTUS”.
- “BRIT EX ARG VEB” (on the side) Meaning: “BRITISH SILVER MINES” –

BROUGH, BRITANNIA LEAD INGOT:
- “SOC LUT BRIT EX ARG”
- Meaning: “SOCIETY OF LUTUDARUM”
- The Company that mined the Lead.

CARMEL, BRITANNIA LEAD INGOT:
- “G (gaius) NIPI P(product) ASCANI”
- Meaning: Gaius Nipi Plumbum (Lead) Ascani
- Lead from Carmel, Flintshire with the merchant’s name.

ARLES, GAUL LEAD INGOT: (Musee d’Arles Antique)
- “IMP CAES PLUM GERM”
- Meaning: “EMPEROR CAESAR LEAD FROM GERMANIA”
- “ILUCIUS FLAVIUS VERUCLA”
- Meaning: “AN OFFICIAL IN LOWER GERMANY” (The Merchant who extracted and shipped the lead)

CORINTH, ACHAEA (GREECE) LEAD INGOT:
- “IMP DOMT CAESARIS AVG GER”
- Meaning: EMPEROR DOMITIAN FROM GERMANIA
- It was found from a breakwater at Aigera, Gulf of Corinth, Greece.

HISPANIA LEAD INGOT:
- “SOC M C PONTILIENI ORUM M F”
- Meaning: MARCUS AND CAIUS PONTILIENI AND SERVANT PHILIP.