Legionarius, Early 1st century AD

 

This is the Roman Legionarius of the early 1st century AD that first appeared in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PB 105.

Both PB ranges were based on Phil Barker's books Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars and Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome. This figure is taken from illustration 5 in AEIR and, like all of this range, the Minifigs code corresponds to the illustration number plus 100.

The base is stamped PB 105 on the upper surface in the usual manner.

The illustration is based on the tombstone of Caius Valerius Crispus and the description follows a rather dated assumption that the armour is made of leather. Hence the model's armour consists of a featureless breast plate and shoulder pieces.

H Russell Robinson shows the relief in The Armour of Imperial Rome, points out that is is badly worn, and goes on to identify the armour as mail - hamata. My own way round this is to paint on the mail as best as can be managed. 

Aside from that he's a neat little figure that makes an impressive cohort from the time of Tiberius and Germanicus.