ASIA MINOR. Uncertain. 2nd-3rd centuries. Tessera (Lead, 16 mm, 3.16 g), Gerousia (council of elders). [Γ]ЄPO-VCIAC ("Of the council of elders") Head of Tyche to right. Rev. Blank. Apparently unpublished. Some corrosion, otherwise, very fine.


A small number of tesserae allude to the Gerousia, or council of elders. Sometimes the legend mentions the council itself, as does our tessera. The same genitive legend appears on both sides of a double-sided tessera published by Gülbay & Kireç (no. 211a, with the devices of a composite head and a hippocamp). Other tesserae have the abbreviated legend ΓЄP, sometimes with additional letters that may abbreviate the official's name who signed on behalf of the council (see Gülbay & Kireç 34, 38, 257 and Vossen col. 39, 94). This official could be its president, secretary or treasurer.