Crawford 53/2 Denarius Group 8 (Tall X)

Denomination: Denarius
Metal: AR
Obverse: Head of Roma with Peaked visor, X mark of value behind (tall and narrow)
Reverse: Dioscuri riding r., streaming cape., ROMA in 3-line rectangular frame.
Weight: 3.82 gm
Reference: Crawford 53/2
Provenance: Purchased from Pierluigi Debernardi, Feb 26, 2013., Ex InAsta 45

The group 8 denarius has a unique style in Roma’s profile with a long straight nose. The helmet has fewer and more widely separated griffon tufts than previous groups but this is also true of group 9. The reverse is stylistically indistinguishable from group 9, and these are often difficult to differentiate. The group 8 RRC plate coin X.19, displays visor on Roma’s helmet that is rather extended at the top. This is not seen on group 9 coins and would be a distinguishing characteristic but fewer than half of the group 8 dies have this characteristic. This example is one that does not have an extended visor. The most reliable distinguishing characteristic is the tall “X” mark of value (taller than wide), always seen on coins of this style and never on other groups of 53/2.

Colección : Fully Anonymous Early Roman Silver of the denarius system