Ancient Roman, Empire Bone dice - Ancient Roman legionary bone gaming dice - 12 mm (No reserve price)
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Current bid
€ 165
No reserve price
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 210 - € 250
 | €165 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €155 | |
 | €140 | |
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Ancient Roman legionary bone gaming dice dating to the 1st–3rd century CE, made of bone, measuring 12 × 12 × 11 mm and weighing 2.77 g, authentic original object from the Oud-Romeins/Keizerrijk culture, acquired in 2026 from a private collection with the condition described in the listing.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
The second century AD was a period of prosperity for the Romans in the Netherlands. The limes, the Roman border that stretched along the great rivers, was secured to a considerable extent and only needed to be guarded. To guard a border that ran through the entire country from Germany to the North Sea, you needed many soldiers. A river is a natural border, both difficult to cross and easier to defend. Many Dutch towns, such as Utrecht, Nijmegen and Leiden, owe their origins to the Roman limes. Along this border many forts (castella) and military camps (castra) were established.
These settlements primarily served to protect the borders, they also provided space for trade. Trade took place between the different limes settlements, usually via the river. The Romans also traded with the native tribes on the other side of the border. The Romans did not live in a constant state of war with their 'barbarian' neighbors, and peaceful contact was certainly possible. With many impressive watchtowers, the limes functioned more as a boundary and hopefully a deterrent, than an impregnable separation.
In the second century AD, it was fairly quiet in the south of the Netherlands (the province Germania Inferior). The soldiers in the military camps, forts, and watchtowers must have been terribly bored at times. The Roman commanders kept the soldiers busy with cooking, cleaning, and gymnastic exercises. You can only be bored with that for so long. One of the things the Romans soldiers were clever at was finding distractions. They were known for loving dice, gambling, and other games of chance. They often challenged each other to stake money or other possessions. That quickly makes a game exciting!
In several places where Roman settlements once stood, remnants of games have been found. Many of these games are still recognizable to us today. A fine example are these dice, on display at the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden. The dice found looked not much different from our dice. There are even examples of dice loaded on one side, so the chance of landing on six was very high! Fortuna—the goddess of luck, chance, and fate—would surely not have been pleased about that.
Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 11 mm
Weight: 2.77 grams
Material: bone / bone
Condition: excellent, a very fine die that is even more beautiful in reality.
Shipping method: this lot is securely packed and shipped via DHL or DPD using Catawiki's smart shipping."
The second century AD was a period of prosperity for the Romans in the Netherlands. The limes, the Roman border that stretched along the great rivers, was secured to a considerable extent and only needed to be guarded. To guard a border that ran through the entire country from Germany to the North Sea, you needed many soldiers. A river is a natural border, both difficult to cross and easier to defend. Many Dutch towns, such as Utrecht, Nijmegen and Leiden, owe their origins to the Roman limes. Along this border many forts (castella) and military camps (castra) were established.
These settlements primarily served to protect the borders, they also provided space for trade. Trade took place between the different limes settlements, usually via the river. The Romans also traded with the native tribes on the other side of the border. The Romans did not live in a constant state of war with their 'barbarian' neighbors, and peaceful contact was certainly possible. With many impressive watchtowers, the limes functioned more as a boundary and hopefully a deterrent, than an impregnable separation.
In the second century AD, it was fairly quiet in the south of the Netherlands (the province Germania Inferior). The soldiers in the military camps, forts, and watchtowers must have been terribly bored at times. The Roman commanders kept the soldiers busy with cooking, cleaning, and gymnastic exercises. You can only be bored with that for so long. One of the things the Romans soldiers were clever at was finding distractions. They were known for loving dice, gambling, and other games of chance. They often challenged each other to stake money or other possessions. That quickly makes a game exciting!
In several places where Roman settlements once stood, remnants of games have been found. Many of these games are still recognizable to us today. A fine example are these dice, on display at the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden. The dice found looked not much different from our dice. There are even examples of dice loaded on one side, so the chance of landing on six was very high! Fortuna—the goddess of luck, chance, and fate—would surely not have been pleased about that.
Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 11 mm
Weight: 2.77 grams
Material: bone / bone
Condition: excellent, a very fine die that is even more beautiful in reality.
Shipping method: this lot is securely packed and shipped via DHL or DPD using Catawiki's smart shipping."
Details
Culture
Ancient Roman, Empire
Century/timeframe
1e t/m 3e n.Chr.
Name of object
dice - Ancient Roman legionary bone gaming dice
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
2026
Material
Bone
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
See attached photos / description (condition)
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Height
12 mm
Previous owner - year acquired
1980
Width
12 mm
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
Depth
11 mm
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
