Lot 3655

Description

Roman tesserae, Roman Imperial, (1st-2nd century A.D.), AE 13, (0.79 g), obv. standing figure with purse and caduceus, within dotted border, rev. crescent and three stars within dotted border, (Gorny & Mosch, Auction 122, 10 March 2003 [lot 2414] realised 140 Euros). Very fine, holed as usual, very rare.

The term tessera is used to describe a variety of objects which are not coins and in this case a small token or gambling counter. Some tessarae have been used as small change if there was a shortage of coinage but was not its primary purpose. (see John Melville Jones, Dictionary of Ancient Roman Coins p.301).