Crawford 322/1b

Moneyer:  C. Fabius C.f. Hadrianus, 102 BC

Denomination: Denarius

Obverse:  EX•A[rgentum]•PV[blicvm]; Veiled and turreted bust of Cybele to right. 

Reverse:  C•FABI•C•F Victory in fast biga right, holding goad in her right hand and reins in her left; below horses, M with pellet above and bird [(flamingo? heron? (czapla)] standing right. 

Reference: Crawford 322/1b

Mint: Rome

Weight: 3,87 g

Notes: According to Crawford the bird resembles a flamingo; it may be therefore identified with one of the two birds called buteo by the Romans. It should therefore be regarded as the bird which settled on a ship commanded by a Fabius and thus gave a cognomen to the Fabii Buteones. 

EX Argentum Pvblicvm. According to Crawford all official coinage was presumably made from metal owned by the Roman state and it is not obvious why certian issues, like this one here, should expressly advert to this fact. 

Collection : 16 Roman Republic