ASIA MINOR. Uncertain. 2nd-3rd centuries. Tessera (Lead, 13 mm, 1.84 g). Gryllos advancing left, composed of a large Silenos mask, rooster's legs and the forepart of a horse, holding a wreath in its mouth; to right, palm branch. Rev. Blank. Apparently unpublished, but cf. Gülbay & Kireç 83 (for a similar design). Very fine.


Grylloi are composite creatures that are usually composed of a large Silenos mask with the legs of a rooster and one or multiple animal foreparts springing out. They were a popular and common motif in Roman gem engraving. Grylloi of this "rooster legs" type are apparently very rare on tesserae. However, the related design of a composite "Janiform" head of Silenos and a young Pan is known from several tessera types (Gülbay & Kireç 140-142, Vossen col. 42, 78 and Leu Numismatik Web Auction 14, 1068).