Sale: CNG 70, Lot: 645. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 21 September 2005.  Sold For $340. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

[Roman Imperial] CLAUDIUS. 41-54 AD. Æ Sestertius (27.69 g, 6h). Rome mint. Laureate head right; c/m: ROB- in rectangle / Legend within wreath. For coin: RIC I 96; Von Kaenel Type 54; BMCRE 115; Cohen 39; for c/m: Pangerl 23, note 150; BN 131. VF, orichalcum surfaces. ($300)

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. The extended crossbar of the B is also unique to this variety.