Branch, Denarius, Crawford 76/1d (Long visor)

Denomination: Denarius
Era: c. 211 BC
Metal: AR
Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma r. with visor of three long straight lines; Loop under visor and loop in front of ear; Branch behind, tied with fillet (partially obscured); Lock of hair on left shoulder; “X” below chin of Roma. Border of dots
Reverse: Dioscuri r.; in linear frame, “ROMA”.
Mint: Rome
Weight: 3.93 gm.
Reference: Crawford 76/1d
Provenance: NAC 72, Lot 1005, 17-MAY-2013

Crawford lists four sub-varieties of 76/1 differentiated by the presence or absence of a small curl on the left shoulder and a fillet detail tied to the branch. This example has both the curl on the left shoulder and the fillet on the branch.

What Crawford does not differentiate is the two significantly different obverse styles found in this issue. The obverse of the first is rendered with Roma’s helmet visor comprised of three very short lines. This variety is always Cr. 76/1a without the curl and fillet details. The second variety has Roma’s helmet visor of three long lines and of somewhat more elegant style, and is found with and without the curl and fillet. The present coin is the second style with the long visor.

This sub variety is the scarcest of the four sub-varieties of Cr. 76/1. Slightly off-center, obscuring part of the branch and the stars above the dioscuri on the reverse. otherwise, beautiful old toning and GVF.

140

Collection : Symbols -Early anonymous Roman silver coins with symbols and Mintmarks