★ Scarce 158/1 ★
Anonymous AR denarius, issued 179-170 BCE. Rome, 3.80g, 20mm.
Obv: Helmeted head of Roma right; X (mark of value) to left
Rev: Luna (or Diana?) driving prancing biga right.
Crawford 158/1; Sydenham 312; RSC 5. Scarce.
From the JB (Edmonton) collection.
Well struck on a broad flan with a clear crescent moon over Luna. Traces of overstriking on rev. 9:00-11:00(?).
Estimate: 250
A very pleasing example of this scarce issue, which comes just before a hiatus in the production of the denarius, lasting until 155 BCE. The Luna in biga type, which began c. 189 BCE, was the first large departure from the Dioscuri type for the denarius; the reasons behind the design are obscure. (This issue is distinguished from the earlier anonymous type 140/1 by the prancing as opposed to galloping horses.)