2nd-3rd century AD. A large and thick bronze weight of rectangular shape, fitted with a massive bronze handle, flat bottom, inscription beside the handle reading 'LEG III'. See Speidel, M.A., 'Legio III Augusta. Evidence from Zeugma on the Euphrates' in Visions de l’Occident romain, hommages a Yann Le Bohec, Textes réunis par Bernadette Cabouret, Agnès Groslambert et Catherine Wolff, Paris, 2012, pp.603-619, fig.7. 490 grams, 66mm (2 1/2"). From a North Yorkshire collection formed since the 1980s; thence by descent. The inscription could be related to the Legio III Gallica (the 'Gallic Third Legion') created by Julius Caesar in 49 BC and mainly stationed, during the Imperial Age, in the Syrian city of Raphanea. It is more likely, however, that the weight refers to the Legio III August, which was operating mainly in North Africa and had its headquarters in Lambaesis. Vexillationes of this Legion operated also in East during the Parthian and Sassanian wars, and the stamped inscription finds a good correspondence with the stamped tile recently found in Zeugma and published by Speidel. [No Reserve]