Watch List notes:

ROMAN AND BYZANTINE COINS

Pescennius Niger, 193-194. Denarius (Silver, 17mm, 3.08 g 12), Antioch. IMP CAES PESC - NIGER IVST AVC Laureate head of Pescennius Niger to right. Rev. IVSTI - TIA AVG Justitia standing facing, her head to left, holding scales with her right hand and cornucopiae in her left. BMC -, but cf. p. 78, note 305. Cohen 44. RIC 49. A very well-struck, sharp example with a fine portrait. Extremely fine.

The coinage of Pescennius Niger is today quite rare, but it must have originally been struck in vast numbers. New die varieties (i.e. unpublished ones) constantly appear, bearing variant legends, types and portraits. In fact, after his defeat by Septimius Severus his coinage must have been very efficiently sought out, recalled and destroyed by the central government. Pieces as attractive as this one are very rare.