Modius, or Grain Measure

Copper alloy modius, or grain measure. The inscription states that the vessel holds 17 ½ sextarii although in fact it holds 20.8. If this vessel was used to collect tax in the form of grain, then the army was swindling the tax payers. The name of the emperor Domitian has also been scratched off, as after his death the senate wanted to erase his memory from public record.