The plates are a military diploma granting citizenship and land to a veteran of one of the Roman  Legions.  These plates, issued by order of the Roman emperor Trajan, are an example of double, sealed, witnessed documents.The plates are of particular interest to students of the Book of Mormon because they contain a sealed portion and were formally attested by witnesses.

These plates will be on display at BYU Idaho in Rexburg, Idaho for the next four months.