Unusual Cut Sestertius

356, Lot: 470. Estimate $150. Sold for $150. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Nero. AD 54-68. Æ Cut Sestertius (18x29mm, 12.13 g, 7h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint(?). Laureate head right / Roma seated left on cuirass, holding palladium; shields behind. Cf. RIC I 398 var. for the general types. VF, dark green patina. Unusually cut around the portrait, probably for inserting into a mount.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 223 (2 December 2009), lot 418.

The identification of the mint as Lugdunum is based solely on the style of the portrait. The present consignor notes that this coin “was cut at least seven times and with no less than two hammer blows. The cuts were likely made with a chisel from the obverse side that were carefully done framing the portrait.”