Prefect's letter ordering a compulsory purchase of gold TM 17489unbekannt

[…] to the magistrates and council and […] logistes of the Oxyrhynchite nome, greeting. The divine and venerable fortune of our lords the Emperors and Caesars, by divine letters sent to me, has ordered that gold be purchased from the province. Take care, since the matter admits of no delay, for it has been ordered that all the gold be delivered at Nikomedia by the 4th of the month Thoth, within 30 days, that is by the 5th of Mesore, and, showing your devotion in this too, to demand only 38 pounds from each according to ability and bring them to the illustrious city of the Alexandrians, these being conveyed, clearly, by you the logistes and by one of you who holds first rank in the magistracy, those who deal in the gold trade and those who are most wealthy contributing to you in this levy, but the foreigners not being troubled unless they have set up their household there and have not yet held civic office and happen to be well-off, 100,000 (denarii), clearly, for each pound being paid to the suppliers by the most sacred treasury. And so that the price of these may be paid to them on the spot without delay, I have written to my lord and brother the most eminent catholicus, so that he may order the procurators to do this. I pray for your health. After which, in Latin.