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DAY 1: Historic Arms & Armor: Revolutionary America

Sat, Jul 18, 2026 11:00AM EDT

2026-07-18 11:00:00 2026-07-18 11:00:00 America/New_York Treasure Trove Treasure Trove : DAY 1: Historic Arms & Armor: Revolutionary America https://live.treasuretroveauctions.com/auctions/treasure-trove/day-1-historic-arms-armor-revolutionary-america-23506 Treasure Trove Auctions proudly presents Day 1 of our premier militaria event, featuring an extraordinary selection of historic American arms and relics, including some of the finest documented Revolutionary War material we have encountered, significant Civil War artifacts, American Indian pieces, and frontier-era history. Complementing this remarkable offering is our signature selection of medieval, Renaissance, and antique arms & armor, creating a truly exceptional sale spanning centuries of warfare. Now is your chance to acquire tangible history from all eras of military history! Treasure Trove Auctions info@treasuretroveauctions.com

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Lot 106

Ancient Roman Mainz-Type Gladius River Find, Early Imperial Period 27 BC-AD 284

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$50

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Price	Bid Increment
$0	$25
$100	$50
$500	$50
$1,000	$100
$2,000	$250
$5,000	$500
$10,000	$1,000
$20,000	$2,500
$50,000	$5,000

This evocative Ancient Roman river-find gladius blade appears to be a Mainz-type gladius from the Early Imperial Period, circa 27 BC-AD 284. This example shows the shorter waisted blade style associated with the first half of the Roman Empire, while its slightly longer form suggests an early position within the Mainz gladius tradition. The blade retains its broad, tapering profile with a visible waist and pointed tip, along with the projecting tang area where the hilt assembly would have originally been mounted. The surface is heavily encrusted with river or burial deposits, creating a strong archaeological appearance and preserving the artifact in an as-found state.

Roman gladii and pugiones are often recovered from rivers, fords, ancient crossings, and frontier zones where Roman troops established camps, forts, bridges, and supply routes. Major river systems such as the Rhine and Danube were critical military arteries of the Roman world, and the banks, shallow crossings, and ancient bridge sites of these rivers have produced many Roman military finds. Weapons could be lost in combat, deposited ritually, discarded during movement, or buried over time in river sediment. This type of heavily encrusted surface is typical of long-buried or river-recovered iron artifacts and gives the piece its unmistakable in-situ character.

The Mainz gladius was one of the principal sword forms of the early Roman Empire, following earlier Republican and Hispaniensis types and preceding the straighter Pompeii pattern. Its waisted blade profile was designed for both thrusting and cutting, making it ideal for Roman legionary close combat behind the shield. While fully intact Roman gladii can command extremely high prices, river-find examples such as this offer collectors a more attainable way to own a genuine Roman-period weapon artifact with direct battlefield and frontier context. The deposits present on this blade can be extremely difficult or impossible to remove safely, and aggressive chipping or mechanical cleaning may damage the surviving iron beneath. Chloride extraction or distilled water treatment may be possible, but such processes can take significant time and should only be undertaken by experienced conservators.

We recommend displaying this piece as found, preserving its archaeological surface and powerful river-find appearance. With its Early Imperial attribution, Mainz-style waisted blade profile, slightly longer early form, heavy encrustation, and Roman frontier context, this is a compelling artifact for collectors of Roman antiquities, legionary weapons, ancient battlefield relics, archaeological ironwork, and classical military history. Prospective bidders are strongly encouraged to inspect all photographs carefully and request any additional close-ups, measurements, or information needed prior to bidding. These lots are offered as-is and represent fascinating archaeological river-find relics tied to powerful moments in Roman military history and discovery.

Provenance: Consigned by a local antiquities collector.

Condition

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★ ★
Honest Wear or As Found - Standard Wear, medium to heavy use, or other wear/patina that adds to the item’s character and authenticity. Typically the state of most Antiques and Antiquities. Also refers to militaria that has seen extensive field wear with lots of character, often desired by collectors and referred to as “salty”. For Antiquities, ground or river finds may be labelled As Found which means they are Untouched, uncleaned, and in original condition from discovery. Any state of Amateur or Professional Restoration or Preservation will be noted.

Condition assessed using Treasure Trove Auctions’ proprietary grading scale. While we strive for accuracy, all ratings are subjective and based on our best evaluation as determined by a dedicated team of researchers, from expert appraisers to knowledgeable historians and veteran collectors. Full grading details can be found on our Authentication page for reference. For a more in-depth condition report or additional images, please contact us and we will be more than happy to oblige.

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If you have not contacted Treasure Trove Auctions 512-221-2540 to arrange payment within 3 days of the time that invoice is sent, we will charge the credit card you used to register for the auction for the amount of your invoice.

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DAY 1: Historic Arms & Armor: Revolutionary America

Ancient Roman Mainz-Type Gladius River Find, Early Imperial Period 27 BC-AD 284

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