Ave!

Key, Roman, Rotary, ca. 1st-3rd Cent. AD

Copper alloy; 40mm/5.78gm

Con/ Small break on the business end, otherwise, As Fabricated; warm brown patina, cleaned and waxed

Seller's Note/ What is a "rotary" key? Basically, a key with a hole in the shaft that, when placed in a the lock and pressed in, allowed the key to open the lock. Ancient Romans used such keys to lock away their precious valuables in small boxes made either of wood or metal. Such keys were attached to a string or metal loop. Small rotary keys like this are quite scarce in this slightly broken condition.