98 AD. A rare and historically-significant Romano-British limestone architectural block, the sixth known dedication inscription to the Emperor Trajan found in Britain (2006); dating to 98 AD it is incised in shallow relief; the eight-line inscription reads 'IMP(eratori) CAES(ari) DI(vi) NERVAE F(ilio) NERVAE TRAIANO A-VG(usto) GER(manico) PON-TIF(ico) MAXIM(o) POTES(tate) TR(ibunicia) II' which may be translated as For the Emperor Caesar Nerva Trajan Augustus, conqueror of the Germans, son of the deified Nerva, pontifex maximus, tribune of the people for the second time. Previously exhibited at Ure Museum, Department Of Classics, University Of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, UK. 11 kg, 38 x 25.5cm (15 x 10"). From the Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, formed since 1985; previously with Helios Galleries in 2010, stock number H1081a; found Lincolnshire 2006 and exhibited at Ure Museum, Reading, UK; accompanied by a copy of the Helios gallery invoice and an eleven page academic report on the dedication, find-location, and its importance to our knowledge Roman Britain by Peter Kruschwitz and Michael Green of the University of Reading. The block was discovered during field-walking in 2006 near the settlement of Bucklegate, Lincolnshire. Its inscribed face was originally dressed and polished, the rest of stone apparently left in close to its natural state. It is not known for certain whether the text continued beyond the end of its present extent, but the only customary element not now present is the name of the dedicant. Prior to the discovery of this inscription, only five dedications to Trajan have been recorded in Roman Britain, this being the 6th. According to Dr Ittai Gradel of Copenhagen, this dedication (probably from a military garrison or administrative building) can be precisely dated to 98 AD, within 11 months of Trajan becoming emperor (which was after 1 month of his being made Tribune for the 2nd time), and in this respect it is a unique find in Roman Britain. Trajan was emperor from 98 to 117 AD, declared by the Senate optimus princeps (the best ruler"). He is remembered as a successful military commander who presided over the greatest military expansion in Roman history, which meant Rome's empire had its greatest territorial extent at the time of his death. Trajan is also known for overseeing a generous public building programme and for implementing beneficial welfare policies which earned him his reputation as the second of the Five Good Emperors who presided over an era of relative peace and prosperity in the Mediterranean world.