Ancient Roman, Empire Bronze The Legionary Dice of Fortune — Enigmatic Cubical Object with Six Identically Decorated Faces — (No reserve price)
04
days
05
hours
50
minutes
18
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
No reserve price
Expert
Selected by Ruth Garrido Vila
Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
Estimate € 250 - € 300
No bids placed
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 143856 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
The Legionary Dice of Fortune, a Roman-inspired six‑sided bronze cube with identical five‑circle ring‑and‑dot motifs on all faces, weighs 28.32 g and dates to circa 1st–4th century AD.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
An intriguing and unusually heavy bronze-coloured cubical object, distinguished by an extraordinary arrangement of five concentric ring-and-dot motifs repeated across all six faces.
Weighing 28.32 grams, this remarkable piece features a substantial geometric form with gently rounded edges, richly textured surfaces and striking circular decorations.
Its design recalls the distinctive ring-and-dot markings found on ancient Roman gaming dice, yet possesses one particularly unusual characteristic: rather than displaying different numerical values, each face reportedly carries the same five-circle composition.
The Five Eyes — A Mysterious Geometric Design
At the centre of each face appears a prominent circular motif, consisting of a raised or recessed central point surrounded by concentric rings.
Four smaller circular marks occupy the surrounding corners, creating a balanced arrangement of five elements.
The repeated composition gives the object a strong sense of symmetry and geometric order.
In a modern symbolic interpretation, the central circle may evoke unity, while the surrounding four marks suggest balance, direction and completeness.
The design creates the impression of five watchful eyes, repeated across the six sides of the cube.
The Roman World — Games, Chance and Fortune
Gaming occupied an important place in Roman daily life.
Dice were used in numerous games, bringing together entertainment, competition and the unpredictable influence of chance.
Roman dice were produced in various materials, including bone, stone and metal, and were frequently decorated with distinctive ring-and-dot markings.
The Roman world also placed great importance on Fortuna, the goddess associated with chance, luck and the changing circumstances of human life.
The unusual repeated decoration of this object invites an evocative comparison with those ancient traditions.
However, its identical markings distinguish it from conventional numbered gaming dice, leaving its original purpose uncertain.
A Substantial and Distinctive Metal Object
The cube displays an attractive dark bronze-coloured surface, with earthy brown highlights, greenish areas and irregular textural details.
Its gently softened corners and strongly defined circular motifs give it an impressive sculptural appearance.
The weight of 28.32 grams adds to its substantial character.
Viewed from different angles, the repeated arrangement of circles creates a remarkable sense of visual continuity.
“The Five Eyes of Fortune” is an evocative name for this mysterious object — a celebration of geometric symmetry, ancient gaming traditions and the enduring fascination with luck and destiny.
An intriguing piece for collectors of Roman-style artefacts, unusual metal objects, ancient gaming equipment and enigmatic geometric designs.
Object Details
Style: Roman-inspired
Type: Cubical metal object; possible gaming-related or decorative piece
Material: Bronze-coloured metal, composition unverified
Weight: 28.32 g
Shape: Six-sided cube with slightly rounded corners
Decoration: Five ring-and-dot motifs reportedly repeated on all six faces
Surface: Dark brown, bronze and greenish tones
Original function: Undetermined
An intriguing and unusually heavy bronze-coloured cubical object, distinguished by an extraordinary arrangement of five concentric ring-and-dot motifs repeated across all six faces.
Weighing 28.32 grams, this remarkable piece features a substantial geometric form with gently rounded edges, richly textured surfaces and striking circular decorations.
Its design recalls the distinctive ring-and-dot markings found on ancient Roman gaming dice, yet possesses one particularly unusual characteristic: rather than displaying different numerical values, each face reportedly carries the same five-circle composition.
The Five Eyes — A Mysterious Geometric Design
At the centre of each face appears a prominent circular motif, consisting of a raised or recessed central point surrounded by concentric rings.
Four smaller circular marks occupy the surrounding corners, creating a balanced arrangement of five elements.
The repeated composition gives the object a strong sense of symmetry and geometric order.
In a modern symbolic interpretation, the central circle may evoke unity, while the surrounding four marks suggest balance, direction and completeness.
The design creates the impression of five watchful eyes, repeated across the six sides of the cube.
The Roman World — Games, Chance and Fortune
Gaming occupied an important place in Roman daily life.
Dice were used in numerous games, bringing together entertainment, competition and the unpredictable influence of chance.
Roman dice were produced in various materials, including bone, stone and metal, and were frequently decorated with distinctive ring-and-dot markings.
The Roman world also placed great importance on Fortuna, the goddess associated with chance, luck and the changing circumstances of human life.
The unusual repeated decoration of this object invites an evocative comparison with those ancient traditions.
However, its identical markings distinguish it from conventional numbered gaming dice, leaving its original purpose uncertain.
A Substantial and Distinctive Metal Object
The cube displays an attractive dark bronze-coloured surface, with earthy brown highlights, greenish areas and irregular textural details.
Its gently softened corners and strongly defined circular motifs give it an impressive sculptural appearance.
The weight of 28.32 grams adds to its substantial character.
Viewed from different angles, the repeated arrangement of circles creates a remarkable sense of visual continuity.
“The Five Eyes of Fortune” is an evocative name for this mysterious object — a celebration of geometric symmetry, ancient gaming traditions and the enduring fascination with luck and destiny.
An intriguing piece for collectors of Roman-style artefacts, unusual metal objects, ancient gaming equipment and enigmatic geometric designs.
Object Details
Style: Roman-inspired
Type: Cubical metal object; possible gaming-related or decorative piece
Material: Bronze-coloured metal, composition unverified
Weight: 28.32 g
Shape: Six-sided cube with slightly rounded corners
Decoration: Five ring-and-dot motifs reportedly repeated on all six faces
Surface: Dark brown, bronze and greenish tones
Original function: Undetermined
Details
Culture
Ancient Roman, Empire
Century/timeframe
circa 1st–4th century AD
Name of object
The Legionary Dice of Fortune — Enigmatic Cubical Object with Six Identically Decorated Faces —
Acquired from
Auction house
Year acquired
2025
Material
Bronze
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Very good
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Previous owner - year acquired
1996
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
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.
