Tessera Coins / Tokens

We all seem to have random or stray coins that come to our collections. Even if you are a truly focussed collector, sometimes you have those random coins that do not fit into your specialty, but are just cool to have.

I sometimes see Tessarae tossed out into the posts as interesting afterthoughts, causing some speculation as to what they are / why they are / who they are / etc. However, we never seem to have a thread where we pull them out and toss them in for everyone to see and discuss.

I only have ONE ancient Tessera to toss out. However, I would enjoy seeing everyone elses cool Tessarae. Why did you capture it? What do you know about it?



I got mine as a whim. I had been purchasing several coins into my collection and ran across this interesting lead jewel. I bought it, and tucked it away. The only time I really think about it is when others are posting theirs. It is one of my few lead coins / tokens within my collection.


Rome.
Lead Tessera
c. 1st cent. AD
Fortuna standing left, resting rudder on ground with right hand, holding cornucopia in left
Large DP
13mm, 1.39 g, 12h
Rostovtsev 2307; Ruggerio 808-9
Ex: Tom Vossen collection of Roman lead objects.
Ex: Gert Boersema Ancient Coins

Please post your TESSERA coins!

 

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I own none but @Ardatirion I know collects them. He just doesn't come around here as often.

Great addition though.

 

I guess this counts as a tessera - my one and only Antinous. I do want a drachm of his one day, but it would set me back between $6k and $9k.

 

Nice! That is one of my targets!

 

I’ve always been interested in these... especially the supposed brothel tokens
But alas, have none. Here’s a bulla:
Edit: found a much better picture

 

Here's one from Roman Egypt...


Obverse: Sarapis seated facing on throne, eagle perched atop, Cerberus (?) at right foot; flanked by Demeter to left, holding long torch and wearing turreted Tyche-crown, and Isis-Fortuna to right, holding cornucopia and rudder, wearing headdress of Isis.
Reverse: Genius standing facing and looking left, holding cornucopia and leaning on column.

 

Nice one @SeptimusT

 

Nice idea for a post, @Alegandron! I'm also interested in seeing some of the ancient tickets or vouchers in the collections of CoinTalk members.

The Romans used the word tessera to convey the Greek term σύμβολον (token).
They were made out of several different materials.

Does anyone have an example of:

1. a tessera made from a material other than lead or bronze?
2. a tessera marked with a seat location?
3. tesserae liberalitatis - ancient vouchers for the poor that were distributed by the government to be exchanged for something of assistance such as grain (tesserae frumentariae) or money (tesserae nummariae)?

Please post any of these or other types!

Here's my unusually-shaped example. The thunderbolt was a symbol of Jupiter or Zeus. Anyone want to share a hypothesis for what this one might have been exchanged? Perhaps for entrance to a religious festival, ceremony, or banquet?





ASIA MINOR. Uncertain. Circa 2nd to 1st centuries BC. Tessera (Lead, 22x10 mm, 3.42 g). Thunderbolt between two stars. Rev. Blank.

 

That is cool. Almost reminds me of Wire Money that the Russians made.

 

Tesserae are interesting objects.

I'm patiently awaiting this lot, said to be clay theater tickets, although I can't find much to back that theory up.

 

Interesting thread. The obverse of this Glass Token shows a bee. Reverse is much worn and has a stag. BMC 186.

 

The 2nd tessera in the lower left looks like it has a Griffin. This will be an interesting lot to explore! Looking forward to it!

 

Charles, I like that Bee! And glass is a cool fabric. It is really corroded. Must had been in a caustic environment for glass.

 

I'm a bit tardy to the party, but I do have over 300 tesserae in my collection. Mostly lead, a couple of bronze, and one in glass. Here's what I have uploaded: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/index.php?cat=18271

If you're interested in this series, there is some fantastic research going on right now, with at least three (!) conferences dedicated to the topic. I attended the 2017 one, for which the proceedings have already been published:
https://numismatics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Tokens_ed_crisa_gkikaki_rowan.pdf. I presented at the 2018 conference, and we expect those proceedings to be out late this year!

 

Thanks for the link Bill. I was about to ask you what the latest thinking of Antinous tokens was. I have quite a number now, picking them up as I see them, maybe 10-12.

 

Thank you for the links and info!

 

Post ‘em! Would enjoy seeing them, as I want to get his tokens.

 

Denise Wilding has a fantastic article on the Antinous series on page 111 of the proceedings linked above! I still argue for studying them as monetary objects more, though.

 

Glad to read again from you brother and teacher @ Ardatirion. Delighted and like in French "Enchante". Meanwhile, I wonder if the following glass item is a tessara for religious ceremonies or cult meetings?

 

I don't have any either, but they are pretty neat!