ROMAN. C. Aburius Geminus. 134 BC. Silver Denarius (3.82g). Rome mint. Head of Roma right, wearing winged helmet, ornamented with griffin's head, the visor in three pieces, single-pendant earring and pearl necklace; GEM to left, mark of value below chin / Mars, holding trophy in right hand and spear, shield and reins in left, driving galloping quadriga right; C (AB)(VR)I below horses, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 244/1; Sydenham 490; Aburia 1; BMCRR Rome 999; Kestner 2214-5; RBW 1006. gVF. A wonderful example for the type. This denarius of C. Aburius Geminus belongs to a phase when Roman moneyers increasingly used coinage for personal and political self-promotion. As a member of the relatively obscure Aburia gens, Geminus likely used this issue to project his name and family into the public eye, turning everyday currency into a vehicle for reputation and influence. Circulating widely across the Roman world, the coin helped assert his presence within the competitive aristocratic arena and illustrates the broader shift in Republican coinage from anonymous state issues to personalised expressions of identity and ambition. (P)

Estimate: AUD 1000