436, Lot: 415. Estimate $100. Sold for $110. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Anonymous. 209-208 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.97 g, 8h). Dolphin (first) series. Mint in Sicily. Helmeted head of Roma right; X (mark of value) behind / The Dioscuri, each holding spear, on horseback right; below horses, dolphin right. Crawford 80/1a; Sydenham 214; RSC 20k; Type as RBW 328. Near VF, toned, a few light marks and scratches.

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, purchased at London Coin Fair, 2016.

The obverse of this die shows either the results of a broken die, an overstrike, a double strike (direct or flipped), or a die clash. Die clash requires a negative incuse impression. There’s a tantalizing impression of a possible exergue line with lettering before the chin of Roma. It looks in relief, which would make it a flipover double strike, but I cannot see a match to the reverse exergue. At the time of consigning, I had not yet worked out which option is most likely. [Andrew McCabe]