Roman Bone Token with Archway. 2nd-4th century A.D. A discoid bone token with archway in relief. Cf. Willi, A., Manual of Roman everyday writing, volume 2, writing equipment, Nottingham, 2021, fig.103. 5.3 grams, 30 mm (1 1/8 in.) German art market, 1990s. Mr A.H., a North American collector living in the UK. The discoid element could be a lid for a seal box. Such boxes were used to protect seals from approximately 100 B.C. and fell out of use in the late 3rd century A.D. Usually they were made in copper-alloy, but older examples from the Mediterranean were carved from bone and there are rare finds of other materials including lead, tin and ivory.

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