167, Lot: 94. Estimate $100. Sold for $172. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

L. Rustius. 74 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.87 g). Helmeted head of Mars right / Ram standing right. Crawford 389/1; Sydenham 782; Rustia 1. Good VF, lightly toned, obverse flan flaw.

From the C. G. Collection.br>
Crawford is alone in calling the obverse head a portrait of Minerva and in suggesting an astrological connection between Minerva and the ram. Babelon notes that the ram makes an appearance on the only other denarius of the Rustia family, that of Q. Rustius as moneyer under Augustus, and it seems possible the ram has some connection with the Rustia family.