385, Lot: 462. Estimate $300. Sold for $2600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

P. Licinius Crassus M.f. 55 BC. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.99 g, 1h). Rome mint. Diademed and draped bust of Venus right; S•C behind / Soldier standing left, holding spear and leading horse by bridle; cuirass and shield below; P•CRASSVS M•F• around. Crawford 430/1; Sydenham 929; Licinia 18; Type as RBW 1539. Near EF, toned, weakly struck in the center of the reverse, die break on the obverse.

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, purchased from Germania Inferior, 2015.

It is perhaps difficult to imagine how I might have chosen to keep another coin of this type over this evidently exceptional denarius, but the explanation is perhaps a good illustration of my collecting philosophy today. Where I have two coins of the same type and where both are well struck examples without evident issues, then I often choose to keep the coin whose engraving style, surfaces, and perhaps old-collection toning speak more to me, even if in more worn condition. This is a very beautiful coin, the coin I have retained is a very beautiful coin also, and so I am now happy to be able to share this coin with another collector. [A. McCabe]