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Message:: [QUOTE="dltsrq, post: 8279413, member: 75482"]Etymologically, tessera is Ionic Greek for the numeral "four". From there it goes into Latin meaning generally "square/cube" or more specifically, "square tablet with writing" used as a ticket. The word apparently enters English in the 1650s meaning "small square tile" as used in mosaics. Google Translate renders Latin "tessera" as English "ticket". As noted above, "tessera" in the modern numismatic context seems to be a catch-all for ancient exonumia. Below are two examples of actual Roman era tesserae (in the strict sense). If I had to hazard a guess, I think [USER=110350]@DonnaML[/USER]'s object may have served as counter on a counting board or perhaps a game piece. But as I say, only a guess. It seems better made and less ephemeral than something intended as a theater ticket. [ATTACH=full]1462058[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1462059[/ATTACH] [/QUOTE]