Ancient Roman Keys and Locks

Predecessors of the keys and locks of today, these crude ancient Roman keys were formed nearly 2,000 years ago to fit into equally crude tumbler-locks. Over a short period of time, these became more refined and more secure, until the Romans really developed the first home security system. These keys and locks cover the whole range of development. From the first, crude trials in the 1st century BC to the 1st century AD, to the Golden Era of the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. These were recovered from Roman settlements near Thrace, on the Black Sea. See also: All Ancient Roman Artifacts
One of the most unique and interesting Roman keys I've ever seen! Dates from the 1st-3rd century AD. A huge piece, crafted of iron. Clear remains of an original hand-etched inscription on one side if the body! 155 mm (6 1/8 inches) long! #key52: $255
Fascinating piece! Roman hairpin made with a key at the end. 1st-4th century AD. What a creative way to take one's important key on the go! Bronze, this piece measures 130 mm (5 1/8 inches) with great light green patina and delicate incised features. key#0395: $175
Ancient Roman bronze key. 2nd - 5th century AD. Great green to light brown patina. Etched markings on body, end bent slightly back. Interesting type! 67 mm (2 5/8") long. #6215: $150
Late Roman / Byzantine bronze key, c. 500-800 AD. A gorgeous, large piece. Simple design with three prongs, the lowest one with a series of vertical ridges. Great green patina! 68 mm (2 5/8") long. #6720: $199
Large ancient Roman bronze key. 2nd - 4th century AD. Big and chunky with deep-cut grooves. Light green to brown patina. Measures 87 mm (3 3/8") long! #6361: $145
Byzantine / Medieval bronze key. c. 900-1100 AD. Beautiful glossy green patina. Very simple construction with extended piece behind the hole for leverage during use. 57 mm (2 1/4") long. #6765: $110
Byzantine / Medieval small bronze chest key. c. 900-1100 AD. A very cute little piece! Measures 26 mm (just over 1 inch) long! Nice light green to copper patina. #6762: $95
Ancient Rome. 2nd-5th century AD. Bronze long key. Ring end broken in antiquity. From an excavation in Thrace. 70 mm (over 2 3/4 inches) long! #899: $95
Ancient Roman bronze key door-lock bolts. 1st-3rd century AD. The metal mechanism from Roman wooden doors, moved by only the correct key in ancient times. Measure between 47-70 mm long. $45 each.
Ancient Roman key rings! Because of a lack of pockets in their togas, Romans sometimes wore their keys on their fingers. This made it easy to keep track of important keys used to lock up valuable possessions.

Roman bronze key ring, 1st-3rd century AD. An excellent example, in near perfect state of preservation. Light green patina. 26 mm long. US ring size 5. #6751: $135

Roman bronze key ring, 1st-3rd century AD. A superb piece! Sturdy construction, with deep-cut grooves. Glossy green to copper patina. 38 mm long. US ring size 4 3/4 - 5. #6784: $175
Roman bronze key ring, 1st-3rd century AD. Amazing, huge piece! Extremely deep-cut etails. Measures 30 mm. Around a US ring size 3 1/2. #6732x2: $199
Roman bronze key ring, 1st-3rd century AD. A very beautiful specimen. Rudimentary 7-point ridge design (only 5 ridges intact now... maybe that's why the original owner discarded it!) Measures 35 mm (1 3/8 inches) long. Around ring size US 4 1/2 but pretty crusty and generally unwearable. Key ring #1390: $95
Ancient Roman key ring, 2nd-3rd century AD. A beauty! 37 mm long, wearable US size 9 1/4. Very cool! #9081-1: 135
Ancient Roman key ring, 2nd-3rd century AD. Near-perfect state of preservation! Possibly the nicest I've had! Extremely deep-cut ridges in an ornate configuration. Nice light green to copper patina. 36 mm long, US ring size 9. Excellent! #1986x2: $210

Ancient Roman Door Lock-Bolt. 4th - 5th century AD.
Recovered from an ancient Roman settlement in Thrace/Macedonia, near the Black Sea. Still moves but remains in locked position. So well preserved that the correct key, probably lost to antiquity, would still open it. Massive. 15 cm (6 inches) wide, heavy iron construction. Extremely rare in this state of preservation. SOLD


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Ancient Roman key ring, 2nd-3rd century AD. 33 mm long, US size 5 1/2. Nice olive-green patina. Uncleaned, as found. Wearable! #9098: $125 SOLD
Ancient Roman key ring, 2nd-3rd century AD. Measures 32 mm long, US size 5. Nice olive-green patina. #9110: $95 SOLD
Ancient Roman bronze key. 2nd - 5th century AD. Beautiful blue-green patina! Measures 44 mm long. Deep-cut details! #9067-2: SOLD
Ancient Roman bronze key. 2nd - 5th century AD. Neat piece, uncleaned, as found. Measures 5 cm (2 inches) long. #7088: $125
SOLD

Ancient Roman bronze key. 2nd - 5th century AD. Outstanding example with lustrous chocolate to olive-green patina and sharp, incised details. Measures 70 mm (2 3/4 inches) long and is thick and heavy! #9058: $155 SOLD
Ancient Roman bronze key. 2nd - 5th century AD. Beautiful emerald-green patina. A gorgeous piece, not well illustrated in this photo. Measures 80 mm (3 1/4 inches) long. #9090-2: $135 SOLD

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