A pair of Ancient Roman cuboid six-sided bone dice, known as ‘tessera’ in Latin. Ring-and-dot engravings on each face delineate the numbers, ascending from one to six. Signs of wear, including minor chipping, and discolouration consistent with age and use of the item. Some of the faces have more defined engravings, while others are more worn. Pitting to the bone. Roman gaming included games where dice were used solely or together with a board and pieces that required moving with the luck of the roll. Whilst gambling and gaming were only legal pastimes during the festival of Saturnalia in December, plenty of Romans partook in the activity during the year. From travelling soldiers at local taverns, to the wealthy elite and ruling class, the Romans were avid fans of playing dice games. Measurements: (each die) L 1cm x W 0.9cm Provenance: Ex. collection of an Essex gentleman.