Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 498 18 Aug 2021
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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 Unpublished in the standard references.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.
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.