Anonymous issues. 1st-3rd centuries AD. PB Tessera (26mm, 4.64 g, 10h).

Electronic Auction 498
Lot: 313.

Roman Imperial, Lead

Estimate: $ 75

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Anonymous issues. 1st-3rd centuries AD. PB Tessera (26mm, 4.64 g, 10h). Juno standing right, holding small shield and preparing to hurl spear / Bull standing right, being crowned by hand above. Unpublished in the standard references. Reverse off center. Fine.

This piece features an interesting casting error that illustrates the manufacturing process. The obverse and reverse would have been carved in two separate pieces, most likely from scrap marble. In this case, it seems that the engraver set the reverse depressions incorrectly, causing the two sides to be misaligned. When this is seen on Roman lead tesserae, the same misalignment tends to occur on all examples of the types, though in this case no other specimens could be traced.

Closing Date and Time: 18 August 2021 at 11:44:00 ET.

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