Archaeologists have uncovered a piece of a Roman soldier’s wrist purse at the site of a temporary Roman encampment in South Moravia, Czech Republic. The camp was established by the 10th Legion during the Marcomannic Wars—around AD 172 to 180—when Rome fought against tribes such as the Marcomanni, Quadi, and Sarmatian Iazyges.

Balázs Komoróczy of the Czech Academy of Sciences likens the find to “a small money-box.” The bronze purse was designed to be strapped to the arm or forearm, so that muscular tension would keep it securely closed. It would be worn on the left arm, leaving the right hand free for combat.

Although no coins were found inside the purse fragment itself, a large number of Roman coins were recovered from the same stratigraphic layer. Scholars estimate that the purse could hold up to fifty silver denarii, nearly equivalent to a legionary’s annual salary.

The wrist purse likely contained soldiers’ personal savings as well as “service cash” for operational needs like food and equipment. This discovery highlights the logistical sophistication of Roman military campaigns and offers a tangible glimpse into the daily lives of soldiers stationed at the outer limits of the empire.

Today, the bronze fragment is on display at the Mušov Visitor Centre in Pasohlávky. It forms part of the “Gateway to the Roman Empire” exhibition, alongside a reconstructed replica of the purse and coins from the excavation site.