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Hellenistic Lead Tessera Token 6.39g Ancient Authentic Antiquity
AUTHENTICITY NOTICE
Guaranteed authentic ancient artifact. Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and lifetime authenticity guarantee.
DETAILS
Item: Tessera / token
Culture: Hellenistic Eastern Mediterranean
Date: c. 300–50BC
Material: Lead (PB)
Type: Token / apotropaic or administrative object
Weight: 6.39 grams
Condition: Complete, worn surfaces, stable lead patina
OVERVIEW
An authentic Hellenistic-period lead tessera or token, cast with abstract geometric designs on both faces. One side displays a central vertical divider with segmented rounded fields, while the reverse shows a framed abstract motif, suggesting symbolic or coded meaning rather than decorative intent.
Lead tesserae were widely used in the Hellenistic world for civic access, ration distribution, association membership, gaming, or cultic purposes. Their designs were often intentionally abstract, functioning as identifiers understood within a specific community rather than as written inscriptions.
AUTHENTICITY CHECK
The lead fabric, casting style, surface oxidation, and weight are consistent with excavated Hellenistic tesserae. The object shows no signs of modern tooling, casting seams, or artificial aging. Acquired from an old European source.
COMPARABLE EXAMPLES
Comparable Hellenistic lead tesserae with geometric designs are documented in museum and archaeological collections and published corpora of Greek and Eastern Mediterranean tokens.
FURTHER READING
General references on Hellenistic tesserae, lead tokens, and ancient civic and cult objects.
CONDITION
As found condition with ancient wear. Structurally intact and stable.
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