Ancient Roman Gambling / Gaming Dice
1st-3rd century AD
ancient bronze bone Roman legionary legionnaire dice for saleDice such as these were carried all across the Roman Empire by traveling, marching legionnaires during the 1st to 3rd centuries AD. After a long, hard day of toil and misery soldiers would congregate rowdily around fires, and in taverns, drinking and playing games of chance with their dice.

They are even referred to in the Bible:
John 19:24 Then the soldiers when they crucified Jesus took His outer garments and they made four parts, a part to every soldier. So they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be." This was to fulfill the Scripture: "They divided my outer garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots."
Luke 23:34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots (throwing dice).

Each of these dice were hand carved from a single piece of animal bone, and made small enough to be carried in the mouth, if need be. They were discovered at a Roman military encampment near the Danube River in Eastern Europe.
Beautiful PAIR of Roman bone gaming dice, 1st-3rd century AD. A nice set with sharp detail overall. Each 9 mm (3/8") diameter. Very nice! #20136: $299 SOLD
Roman Britain, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Great large bone die (single). Big 14 mm diameter. Nice reddish patina. Surfaces still show the crude file marks left when the piece was hastily made in antiquity... perhaps as a replacement for a lost or damaged die. Anything to keep the game going! #85550: $275
Ancient Rome, 1st - 3rd century AD. Beautiful single bone gaming die. 9 mm, with light tone and sharp details. From the collection of the late John Rilling, Orange County, CA. #jr6701: $150
SOLD - alternates available!
Very rare "4-5-6" Roman bone gaming die (single). 1st-3rd cent. AD. Special variation with two number "4s", two number "5s" and 2 number "6s"! Used for a particular dice game in ancient times. Or perhaps could be a "loaded" die for more mischevious purposes. Shows only 4-5-6! Silverish in appearance, may have once been black or perhaps burned at some point in antiquity. Very interesting! Measures 9 mm. #85508: $199 SOLD


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Absolutely massive Roman bone gaming die (single), 2nd-4th century AD. This is huge! Great glossy patina and very deep-cut numbered details. 15x15x13 mm! Found in Gaul. #LG1026: SOLD
Ancient Roman Britain, 1st-3rd century AD. Large and nice red-bone gaming die (single). Great marbled patina, carved of elk bone. Found in northern England. A very pleasing specimen. 12 mm dia. #LG1119: $199 SOLD
Nice SINGLE Roman bone gambling die. 1st--3rd century AD. Measures 9 mm diameter. Bright white tone, one dark edge. Very attractive. #die1079: SOLD
Nice SINGLE Roman bone gambling die. 1st-3rd century AD. 9x10 mm with some original earthen deposits. Nioce contrast and very attractive. Unfortunate washed-out photo. #die1057: SOLD
Very large Roman bone gaming die (single), 1st-3rd century AD. Nice patina, with pleasant patina and nicely cut numbers. Huge 15 mm diameter! Found in Gaul. #LG1043: SOLD
Roman Britain, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Large elk-bone gaming die (single). Huge 15mm diameter, nice big punched "numbers" with black inlay or paint remaining. Excellent patina. #85564: $299 SOLD
Excellent PAIR of Roman bone gaming dice, 1st-3rd century AD. Excellent set. Nice patina, some earthen deposits in the crevices. Each measures 8-9 mm. #85517: $299 SOLD
Ancient Roman Holy Land! c. 1st century AD. Nice single bone gaming die. Nice deep-cut detail with some earthen deposits in the crevices. Original Holy Land earth! Measures 9 mm. A very cool piece, rare from this area. Ex-Middle East collection, found in Israel/Palestine. #85435: $199 SOLD
Ancient Roman Holy Land! c. 1st century AD. LARGE single bone die. Nice deep-cut detail with some earthen deposits in the crevices. Original Holy Land earth! Quite large at 12 mm diameter. A very cool piece, rare from this area. Ex-Middle East collection, found in Israel/Palestine. #85482: $299 SOLD
Ancient Rome, 1st - 3rd century AD. Beautiful single bone gaming die. 9 mm, with rich reddish-brown patina. From the collection of the late John Rilling, Orange County, CA. #jr6628: $150 SOLD
Ancient Rome, 1st - 3rd century AD. Excellent single bone gaming die. Nice patina, some earthen deposits in the crevices. 10 mm (3/8") diameter. Excellent detail. #20256: $175 SOLD
Extremely rare PAIR of 14-sided Roman bone gaming dice. 1st--3rd century AD. Used for a very special and specific Roman game. The six sides of each have the regular numbers, and each corner is leveled off with a single "1" number cut into it. Very rare and cool! 9-10mm diameter each. #14s1085: SOLD
Excellent PAIR of Roman bone gaming dice. 1st--3rd century AD. Striking detail, nicely cut circular numbers, great state of preservation! 9 mm diameter each. #dice0880: SOLD
Excellent PAIR of Roman bone gaming dice, 1st-3rd century AD. Great detail, some earthen deposits in the details. A nice set. 8-9 mm diameter each. #85364: SOLD
Excellent PAIR of Roman bone gaming dice, 1st-3rd century AD. Great detail, very nice patina. Each measures 8-9 mm. Great set! #85450: $299 SOLD - alternate available!
Ancient Greece, 5th-3rd century BC. The earliest dice! Made from the knuckle-bone of an animal, and filled with lead for weighting. These were thrown like modern dice, and each side bore a different significance. Etched lines on one side. 28 mm long and very thick. Extremely rare! #1483: $175 SOLD
Beautiful ancient GREEK lead knuckle-bone. 5th-3rd century BC. The earliest dice! Made from lead in the form of the knuckle-bone of an animal. These were thrown like modern dice, and each side bore a different significance. A fascinating piece. 28 mm long and heavy! #lead3511: $125 SOLD
Extremely rare pair of 14-sided Roman bone dice. 1st - 3rd century AD. Used for a very special and specific Roman game. The six sides of each have the regular numbers, and each corner is leveled off with a single "1" number cut into it. Each 9 mm (3/8") diameter. Very nice and extremely rare! #20273: $375 SOLD
Roman Britain, c. 1st-2nd century AD. Large elk-bone gaming die (single). Huge 15mm diameter, nice large concentric-circle drilled "numbers" with some ancient earthen deposits in the details. Nice patina, great piece! #85578: $299 SOLD
Nice SINGLE Roman bone gambling die. 1st--3rd century AD. Measures 7x9 mm. Nice deep-cut detail, good tone. A nice specimen. #die1132: SOLD
Nice SINGLE Roman bone gambling die. 1st--3rd century AD. Measures 9x10 mm with nice tone. Attractive! #4718: SOLD
Nice SINGLE Roman bone gambling die. 1st--3rd century AD. Measures 9 mm diameter, nice rich tone. #die1070: SOLD
Excellent PAIR of rare black Roman bone gaming dice. 1st--3rd century AD. Very nice specimens! Nice deep-cut detail and nice contrast. 9 mm dia each. #bl0893: $299 SOLD
Rare "4-5-6" black Roman bone gaming die (single). 1st--3rd century AD. Special variation with two number "4s", two number "5s" and 2 number "6s"! Used for a particular dice game in ancient times. Or perhaps could be a "loaded" die for more mischevious purposes. 9 mm dia. #bl0946: SOLD
Rare black Roman bone gaming die (single). 1st-3rd century AD. Broken and repaired, but with very nice detail and some earthen encrustation. 9 mm. #bl0961: SOLD
Nice and rare black Roman bone gaming die (single). 1st-3rd century AD. 9 mm diameter. Nice black color with earthen deposits in the details. Small age crack. #85383: SOLD
Very rare "4-5-6" black Roman bone gaming die (single). 1st-3rd century AD. Special variation with two number "4s", two number "5s" and 2 number "6s"! Used for a particular dice game in ancient times. Or perhaps could be a "loaded" die for more mischevious purposes. Shows only 4-5-6! Large for the type at 12 mm diameter. #85377: $225 SOLD
Nice and rare black Roman bone gaming die (single). 1st-3rd century AD. 10-11 mm. A very fine piece with great surfaces and some earthen deposits in the crevices. Much nicer than photo shows. #85499: $175 SOLD