Astragalos
An astragalos (plural astragaloi) was a gaming piece made from the "knuckle-bone" (typically the anklebone from the hind leg) of a sheep or goat, used in antiquity in for divination and games in a manner similar to dice. Each side had a unique numerical value and, like modern dice, the
values on opposite sides added up to seven. They were also used in children's games games, where
players attempted to knock an opponent's knucklebones out of the center
of a circle, or throw their own knucklebones in the air, catching them
on the back of their hand, like jacks.
Astragaloi were often depicted on ancient Greek coins.
Bone astragalos (gaming piece), 2nd–6th century A.D., 1.7 × 2.9 × 1.3 cm, 6.2g (11/16 × 1 1/8 × 1/2 in.), from Turkey, link: |Princeton| University Art Museum
Bronze molded to look like a bone astragalos (gaming piece), 2nd–1st century B.C., 1.9 × 4.5 × 1.9 cm (3/4 × 1 3/4 × 3/4 in.), from Greece, link: |Getty Museum|
Corinth, Corinthia, Greece, c. 345 - 307 B.C.
SH54014. Silver stater, Pegasi I 400, Ravel 1039, BCD Korinth -, VF, toned, nice style, slight double strike, minor lamination defects at edge; weight 8.242g, maximum diameter 21.5mm, die axis 270o, Corinth mint, c. 375 - 300 B.C.; obverse Pegasos flying left, koppa below; reverse laureate and helmeted head of Athena (or Aphrodite) left, astragalos behind, A below chin
Selge, Pisidia, c. 350 - 300 B.C.
GS71820. Silver obol, SNG BnF 1933; SNGvA 5278; SNG Cop 246; BMC Lycia p. 259, 23 ff.; Klein 630; SGCV II 5478, aEF, toned, weight 0.926g, maximum diameter 9.3mm, die axis 180o, Selge (southern slope of Mount Taurus, Turkey) mint, c. 350 - 300 B.C.; obverse facing head of Medusa (gorgoneion) with curly short hair; reverse head of Athena right in crested helmet, astragalos behind
Roman Republic, Cast Aes Grave, c. 280 - 276 B.C.
RR77392. Aes grave (cast) uncia, Crawford 14/6; Haeberlin pl. 40, 19; HN Italy 273; Thurlow-Vecchi 6a; Vecchi ICC 31, gVF, green patina, weight 27.152g, maximum diameter 29.5mm, Rome mint, c. 280 - 276 B.C.; obverse astragalos (knuckle-bone used like dice for divination and games) and pellet (mark of value); reverse pellet (mark of value); scarce
Kolophon, Ionia, c. 480 - 450 B.C.
GA81539. Silver tetartemorion, SNG Kayhan 358 ff. var. (symbol), SNGvA 2002 var. (same), SNG Cop 140 var. (same), SNG Keckman 241 var. (same), VF, weight 0.292g, maximum diameter 6.8mm, die axis 0o, Kolophon (near Degirmendere Fev, Turkey) mint, c. 480 - 450 B.C.; obverse laureate head of Apollo right; reverse TE (tetartemorion) ligature within incuse square, astragalos (sheep or goat knuckle bone used for divination) left
Ephesos, Ionia, 305 - 288 B.C.
GB83120. Bronze AE 13, BMC Ionia p. 54, 58 ff. var. (different magistrates); SNG Cop 245 ff. var. (same); SNGvA 1836-7 var. (same); SNG Kayhan -, VF, weight 2.159g, maximum diameter 12.6mm, die axis 0o, Ephesos (near Selcuk, Turkey) mint, obverse bee, E-Φ in upper fields; reverse [...]YANΘHΣ, stag kneeling left looking back, astragalos (sheep or goat knuckle bone used for divination) above, magistrate name left
Anatolia (Uncertain City), c. 4th Century B.C.
GA81576. Silver hemiobol, unpublished?, SNG Kayhan -, SNG Keckman -, Asyut -, Tziambazis -, VF, weight 0.315g, maximum diameter 6.6mm, uncertain Antolian mint, obverse head right; reverse astragalos in incuse square; very rare