Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 458 18 Dec 2019
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Spurius Afranius. 150 BC. Æ As (32.5mm, 31.64 g, 12h). Rome mint. Laureate head of bearded Janus; I (mark of value) above / Prow of galley right; S AFRA above, dolphin downward to right. Crawford 206/2; Sydenham 389; Type as RBW 886. Dark green and brown patina. VF.
From the Andrew McCabe Collection. Ex Astarte XXII (15 May 2010), lot 105.
There is an evidently priapic dolphin before the prow and the device is deliberate, as it occurs on other dies; see, for example, Varesi 28 (1998) lot 74. It should thus be a noted variety. For a literary reference, see Shakespeare, Henry VI, part 1, where Charles as Dauphin (dolphin, as pictured on the coat of arms of the son of the King of France) says "A statelier pyramis to her I'll rear than Rhodope's or Memphis' ever was". [Andrew McCabe]
From the Andrew McCabe Collection. Ex Astarte XXII (15 May 2010), lot 105.
There is an evidently priapic dolphin before the prow and the device is deliberate, as it occurs on other dies; see, for example, Varesi 28 (1998) lot 74. It should thus be a noted variety. For a literary reference, see Shakespeare, Henry VI, part 1, where Charles as Dauphin (dolphin, as pictured on the coat of arms of the son of the King of France) says "A statelier pyramis to her I'll rear than Rhodope's or Memphis' ever was". [Andrew McCabe]