An interest-free loan note in which two illiterate stablemen, Antonios and his son Petros of the village of Kaine, acknowledge receiving 6 gold solidi less 36 carats from Flavius Philoxenos, administrator of the estate of the patrician Sophia. They promise repayment in Pharmouthi of the tenth indiction; the document was drawn up at Herakleopolis on 17 September 591.
In English machine translation
[recto]
† In the name of the Lord and Master Jesus Christ, our God and Saviour. † After the consulship of our master Flavius Mauricius Tiberius, year 8, Thoth 19, at the beginning of the fortunate tenth indiction, in Herakleopolis.
To Flavius Philoxenos, the most magnificent comes, administrator of the glorious house of Sophia the most extraordinary patricia, son of Petronios of illustrious memory, from Herakleopolis,
the Aurelii Antonios son of Tourbon and his son Petros, both stablemen from the village of Kaine in the Herakleopolite nome, greetings. We acknowledge, jointly and severally, of our own free will, through this our written security, that we have received from your magnificence, from hand to hand, out of its house, for our own personal and necessary needs, six gold solidi less thirty-six carats as principal, total 6 gold solidi less 36 carats, which we shall of necessity repay to you and pay off in a single instalment in good faith in the month of Pharmouthi of the fortunate tenth indiction, without interest, without delay and without any dispute. The note is binding, and having been asked we have agreed.
We, the Aurelii Antonios and his son Petros, stablemen from Kaine, the aforesaid: the note is acceptable to us as set out above. I, Aurelius Kollouthos son of Ioannes, from Herakleopolis, wrote on their behalf since they are illiterate. †
† I, Apa Sion, with God comes and chartularius, witness this same note, having heard it from the parties as set out above. †
† I, Georgios, with God riparius of the glorious house of Praeiecta the most extraordinary consular lady, witness this note, having heard it from the parties as set out above.
I, Flavius Kosmas, with God kour[…] (?), son of Apoi (?) of blessed memory, from the city of the Herakleopolites, witness this note, having heard it from the parties as set out above. †
(Chi-mu-gamma) Through me, Menas, I have signed (Latin script). Through me, Menas (sign).
[verso]
[…]
"Less 36 carats" means the coins were reckoned at a reduced standard, a common Byzantine accounting practice. The title of the third witness (kour…) and his father's name are abbreviated and uncertain.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Schuldschein). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.