436, Lot: 425. Estimate $300. Sold for $525. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

L. Furius Purpurio. 179-170 BC. Æ As (34mm, 31.78 g, 2h). PVR (first) series. Rome mint. Laureate head of bearded Janus; I (mark of value) above / Prow of galley right; (PVR) above, I (mark of value) to right. Crawford 155/2; Sydenham 331; Type as RBW 684. Fine, dark brown patina with touches of green and red. Very rare.

From the Andrew McCabe Collection. Ex Goodman Collection (Triton I, 2 December 1997), lot 994.

Bronzes from both the PVR series, RRC 155 monogram per this coin, and RRC 187 with VR ligate later in this sale are both rare, but the monogram type is much rarer. Richard Schaefer's database records only three examples: (1) this coin; (2) RBW 684; and (3) Bahrfeldt Volume II, plate 3, no. 62. We can add to that the Paris example cited by Crawford, and one in the Roberto Russo collection. This coin is the finest preserved example known to me. [Andrew McCabe]