I haven't posted much lately. I've been quite busy and haven't had time for more than the occasional comment here. But at least I've kept up with my reading! This is a lead tesserae from Asia Minor, probably Ephesos in Ionia, depicting Alexander the Great. It was struck centuries after Alexander's death, likely during the early 3rd century AD. IONIA, Ephesos. 1st-3rd century AD PB Tessera (15mm, 6.51 g) Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon Blank Gülbay & Kireç 195, 197-200
Nope, it was always blank. I agree that the portrait is surprisingly nice. The engraver was undoubtedly working from a tetradrachm of Lysimachos.
Good looking coin, at first I thought the reverse was worn down. But I didn't know they made coins with blank reverses.
Most likely, but it should be predominantly lead. I hope to do xrf analysis on them, but that would require time and money that I just don't have. Tesserae are ancient tokens. Old theories hold that they were used as entry tickets to games and baths and such, or that they were redeemable for bread and wine from the government. But newer scholarship, including my own research, suggests that they functioned as a small denomination, privately issued currency. The tokens produced during the American Civil War are a good analogy. See this thread for a more in depth discussion: http://www.cointalk.com/t202091/
I asked the Questions you hoped for without seeing that Pretty interesting how little is known about them... only theories!
