Ave!

C. Censorinus. Denarius, 88 B.C., Very Rare!

AR; 18mm/3.1gm

Con/ about Good Fine

Obv/ Jugate heads of Kings Numa Pompilius and Ancus Marcius right

Rev/ Desultor, wearing cap, on horse galloping r., a second riderless horse at his side, VII below, C • CENSO in exergue

Ref/ Crawford 346/1b ; BMCRR 2383

Seller's Note/ This is a very rare coin, indeed! The only examples we could find are in the British Museum collection and no examples of past sales anywhere.

King Ancus Martius, the fourth king of Rome, is thought to have ruled Rome from 640-617 B.C. He was also the grandson of the second Roman king, Numa Pompilius.

In antiquity, the term "desultor" (Latin, "one who leaps down") was applied to individuals skilled at leaping from one horse to another. In the games of the Roman circus, this was a very popular sport. The Roman desultor generally rode only two horses at the same time, sitting on them without a saddle, and vaulting upon either of them at his pleasure. He wore a hat or cap made of felt. The taste for these exercises was carried to so great an extent, that young men of the highest rank not only drove bigae and quadrigae in the circus, but exhibited these feats of horsemanship as well.