Ancients => Tessera ... sweet, sweet Tessera (*tick*)

Yah, I have great respect for our cool CNG coin-friend (Ardatirion, Ardy), so I've always wanted to add one of his favourite coin-types => a "Tessera" example ...

So when the planets aligned and I saw an example with Serapis and a cool gryphon, I hunched-down in the reeds, took aim and gently squeezed the trigger ...

... and my unsuspecting target went down like a sack of wet cement (kill-shot!!)

Amazingly, I bagged this example for about 1/3 of what I had in my ammo-bag!! (yup, I was dressed-up as Clio and I knew that this baby was coming home with me!!) ...

... but in the end I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't have to Clio-up and spend a bunch of cash to tick-off this cool coin-type!!

=> cha-fricken-ching!! (I nailed it!!)

Sure, I'm the first to admit that these Tessera-types are a bit odd and a bit unimpressive looking ... but again, I've always been interested in collecting an example and this baby is right up my alley!!

I hope that you dudes think that it's as cool as I do ... oh, and Ardy said that there'll always be a buyer for it, if I ever want to sell (*flawless*)



EGYPT, Uncertain, PB Tessera
2nd-3rd centuries AD
Diameter: 15 mm
Weight: 4.82 grams
Obverse: Head of Serapis right, wearing calathus; uncertain object before
Reverse: Griffin seated right, resting right paw on wheel
Reference: Milne –; Dattari (Savio) –; Köln
Other: 5h … even gray patina with a spot of green, minor surface cracking



Oh, and in case you didn't know => a Tessera is made out of "Lead" (plumbum, PB)



... kinda cool, eh? (man, I love gryphons!!)

 

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Oh, and I asked Ardy about that green-spot ... because green spots are never good with bronze coins, right? (but he reassured me that green spots are fine with lead coins ... *phew*)

... ummm, but he did mention that these babies have the potential to give-off toxic gases!! (ehhh? => let 'er ride, right?)

 

I like it! Don't make me pull out my Nabataean tesserae!

 

Yeah, I saw you on that coin Steve. I bid on maybe ten of those tesserae today and only got two of them. Oh well.

 

Hi medoraman => thanks for not taking me out with a Clio-bid!!

Oh and hey, please post your spoils if you get the urge and/or the time ...

cheers

 

These are the two I bought.




I got skunked on all of the Antinous'. I bid on every single one of them.

 

I picked up a tessera too . I tried for several but was outbid on all but one.

Sorry, Med-man... looks like I got one of your targets.

 

Yah, Ardy was pumping me up to bid on the Antinous as well (I don't know enough about them to realize that those were the gems => I merely took one single silent sniper-shot at my cool gryphon-victim)

 

=> ahahaha, medoraman => we should have known that Clio's protégé would be somewhere in the mix, eh?

 

Ardy's an instigator all right , but a good one .

 

See, I am not ALL about the Sogdians, just mainly.

Actually, I have been "spending a lot of time" in Egypt lately. First a group of Roman Egypt provincials, then the Cleo VII I bought in DC, now these tesserae. Geez, you almost think I collect the things, huh?

 

Speaking of Clio, he waltzed away with most of my choices today. I was only actually Clio'd twice. I gave up on some of the pricier lots before showtime and he won at least one of them (the fabulous Ptolemy VI bronze with Herakles wearing a lion skin headdress). That one was pretty high far before the end of the auction and I decided not to bid. Clio nabbed it in the final second so I wouldn't have had a chance anyway.

 

He Steve my coinfriend,

Exellent coin i love it.

No coins for me today on CNG bronses went high without clio,

 

I want one!!!!!! Nice pick up little brother.

 

Hmmm? ... I'm kinda curious about that mystery-thing on the obverse?

=> what do you dudes think is in front of Serapis? (is it an object, or an ancient thought-balloon?)

 

As the cataloger of this lot, I can assure you that it is a rare depiction of an "uncertain." Back in ancient times, vast herds of uncertains roamed the grassy plains of Egypt.

...but seriously, I have no idea. We'll have to wait for another example to show up.

Seeing all the activity on these, I'm pretty glad I couldn't bid, because I would have gone overboard. Especially on those dang Antinous types. Everyone loves that guy, but I just want it because it's lead.

Oh, and a fun fact - all four of the tesserae that steve, medora, and tif won today are unique. No other examples known.

 

You rock, my CNG friend

... that'll do pig, that'll do






... just jokes => I love ya!!

 

Well, we all know how important these are to you Bill. I am sure if you ever wish to study any of them further you know exactly where to go.

Think about that though. All three of us bought unique coins, otherwise unknown in the world. I did it even though I don't know a dang thing about these. Dang, some days I just love this hobby.

 

Probably the worst movie quote to use in the bedroom.

 

good luck on your up-coming marriage