Very Rare Long Hair Variant with Braids

443, Lot: 487. Estimate $300. Sold for $1400. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. P. Accoleius Lariscolus. 41 BC. AR Denarius (21mm, 3.59 g, 5h). Rome mint. Draped bust of Diana Nemorensis right, her hair tied in a long plait falling down her neck / Triple cult statue of Diana Nemorensis facing, supporting on their hands and shoulders a beam, above which are five cypress trees; the figure on left holding poppy, that on right holding lily. Crawford 486/1; CRI 172a; Sydenham 1148a; Accoleia 1a; Type as RBW 1702 (same obv. die). Near EF, lightly toned, flatly struck in areas, thin flan crack. Rare variety.

From the Andrew McCabe Collection. Ex Künker 262 (13 March 2015), lot 7768; Varesi 51 (23 April 2008), lot 86 – noted as a rare variant with long hair; Numismatica Ars Classica P (12 May 2005), lot 1820.

Possibly the first ever offered for sale by CNG, Diana Nemorensis’ obverse hair arrangement is a rare variety with a single long lock of hair that flows down her back and a double row of braids above the neckline. Crawford in RRC merely notes that “the arrangement of the hair varies,” but in fact it doesn't vary on the vast majority of coins as can be seen from online databases – almost all have a single bun of hair at the nape of the neck compared to the two layers of braids and the long flowing extension seen here. The same die is seen on RBW 1702, where it is noted as a variety as compared with RBW 1701. RBW 1702 has significant flatness on top of the head, whereas the unusual hair arrangement on this coin is well-detailed. Künker 262, lot 7767 is a different but less attractive die showing the same hair arrangement. Essentially all other dies except these two (Crawford estimates 84 obverses) have the conventional hair without braids or flowing locks. A key variant. [Andrew McCabe]