442, Lot: 265. Estimate $150. Sold for $220. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Gallienus. AD 253-268. Antoninianus (18.5mm, 3.36 g, 11h). Rome mint, 2nd officina. 10th issue, AD 267-268. GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right / APOLLINI CONS AVG, tigress walking left; B in exergue. MIR 36, –; RIC V –; Wolkow 0a2 (R4); Cunetio –. EF, green patina. Extremely rare.

Ex Gemini XI (12 January 2014), lot 496.

This coin was sold as an extraordinary and previously unrecorded die-sinker’s error, with an incorrect combination of reverse legend and design. The tigress at officina B should be accompanied by the legend LIBERO P CONS AVG. However, Wolkow records four examples, all from the same reverse die, and suggests that this was a very early issue from the ‘animal series’ which was soon abandoned. He describes the animal as a lion, not a tigress or panther.