EXTREMELY RARE LATE ROMAN *CHI-RHO* SIGN 

SOLID SILVER PHALERA INSIGNIA APPLIQUE

Late Roman Christian Silver Phalera Insignia Applique with hand carved *CHI-RHO* sign within wreath. This is the most famous Christian Symbol in the early Christian History. This text is well known to appear on 5th Century Roman items.

Beautiful item with exceptional detail. Exceptional specimen, still with some earthen deposits remaining on the surface. A little bit over cleaned surface.

Material: Silver alloy. This item has not been tested for purity.

Circa 400 - 500 AD.   

Diam: 44mm. (1.74")

Weight: 20 gr. (.7 oz)

The Chi Rho is one of the earliest forms of Christogram, and is used by Christians to profess their faith. It is formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters chi and rho (ΧΡ) of the Greek word "ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ" (Christ) in such a way to produce the monogram.

Although not technically a Christian cross, the Chi-Rho invokes the crucifixion of Jesus, as well as symbolizing his status as the Christ.

The Chi-Rho symbol was also used by pagan Greek scribes to mark, in the margin, a particularly valuable or relevant passage; the combined letters Chi and Rho standing for chrēston, meaning "good." Some coins of Ptolemy III Euergetes (r. 246–222 BC) were marked with a Chi-Rho.

The Chi-Rho symbol was also used by the Roman Emperor Constantine I as Vexillum, which is known as Labarum.