Acquired by Roma Numismatics, London, in 2012. From a previous private collection of an English gentleman. The seller of this lot hereby guarantees that this object was obtained legally. 2.66 g, 21x20 mm. Reference for exactely this type of tessera: Marianne Maaskant-Kleibrink, Cachets de terre - de Doliché, in: Bulletin Antieke Beschaving, Orgaan van de Vereeniging Antieke Beschaving, Leiden 1971, 23-63, #4. This rare tessera depicts Zeus and veiled Hera (Jupiter and Juno), facing each other. Highly attractive example, high relief and in excellent condition. Roman culture made great bonds in Hellenism, which primarily affected its ideals of education. Thus in the 1st century BC also plays that made up an essential component of Greek literature became increasingly, and more popular in the Roman Rebublic and the Roman Empire. However, the first theater performances in Rome were found in 364 BC in public games (ludi publici) in honor of the gods. Due to the originally religious character, the theater plays were played in the immediate vicinity of a temple. The games should be an offering for the gods. This new form of entertainment was quickly popular with the Romans and was soon established, a period that stretches into the 3rd century AD, before the fall of the Roman Empire. A tessera was the ancient Roman equivalent of a theater ticket. Stamped into a clay shard was an entrance aisle for spectators attending an event at an amphitheater or arena.