209, Lot: 324. Estimate $150. Sold for $165. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Nero Claudius Drusus. Died 9 BC. Æ Sestertius (34mm, 23.72 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Claudius, AD 41-42. Bare head of Nero Claudius left; c/m: ROB / Claudius seated left on curule chair, holding branch and roll; around chair, weapons and armor to either side of globe. RIC I 93 (Claudius); for c/m: Pangerl 23, note 150. Fine, green and brown patina.

A very rare variety of the common PROB(atum) countermark, apparently a mark of validation (see C. Kraay, "The Behaviour of Early Imperial Countermarks," Essays Mattingly, pp. 130-131). This variety does not appear to be caused by a broken or filled die, but was engraved ROB, with perhaps the P being understood as ligate with the R.