A sale of wheat with deferred delivery from Oxyrhynchus, dated 20 August 504. Aurelius Ioannes, with Aurelius Phoibammon as guarantor, acknowledges receiving 3 gold solidi less 6 carats from Victor, servant of the count Eudaimon, as advance payment for 13 1/2 artabas of wheat to be delivered at the start of Thoth from the new harvest, with repayment of the money if delivery fails.
In English machine translation
[recto]
† After the consulship of Flavius Dexikrates, the most glorious, Mesore 27, beginning of the 13th indiction.
Aurelius Ioannes son of Theodoros, his mother being Rebekka, with a guarantor who also undertakes for him that he will give and fulfil what is set out below, debt of me, Aurelius Phoibammon son of Danielios, miller (?), both signing below, originating from this splendid city of the Oxyrhynchites, to Victor, servant of the most glorious count Eudaimon, landowner in the same city of the Oxyrhynchites, greetings.
I, the aforementioned Ioannes, acknowledge that I have received from you, as the price of the wheat set out below, as agreed between us here and now, 3 gold solidi less 6 carats on the private standard, total 3 gold solidi less 6 carats on the private standard, on condition that I, or I his guarantor who am liable on his behalf for payment of these, give you 13 1/2 artabas of wheat by just measure at the new moon of the following month Thoth of the coming year 181/150, from the new crops of the thirteenth indiction. If we do not deliver the same wheat, either I the debtor or I his guarantor, we agree on mutual security to give within the term the same 3 gold solidi less 6 carats of the same, written by me […]
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Document of Ioannes with guarantor Phoibammon […]
The years 181/150 are the Oxyrhynchite era years used for dating. Sales with deferred delivery were effectively loans repaid in kind; the solidus here is reckoned on a private weighing standard less 6 carats.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Sale of Wheat with Deferred Delivery). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.