Roman Republic AR Victoriatus(2.87g, 16mm, 2h), "Q" series. 209-208 B.C., Apulian(Luceria?) mint. Laureate head of Jupiter right. Border of dots / Victory standing right, crowning trophy with wreath; on trophy shield, Q; Q between. ROMA in exergue. Line border. Crawford 102/1 var(style & Q on shield). Cf. "A Large Hoard of Roman Republican Victoriati", Pierluigi Debernardi, NC 2019(173) for discussion of "102Q" variety.
Ex Diana Numismatica, Rome, Italy and reportedly ex private Italian collection circa 2012
This is a rare variety of the Q victoriatus with a Q on the shield in addition to the field between victory and the trophy. Before the publication of this variety, only a single victoriatus was known with ornamentation on the shield: the Bastianelli example of the 71/1 C/M victoriatus now in the British Museum via Charles Hersh bequest. This variety hid in plain sight for many years as the Q wears off very easily and most examples are illegible, but with the publication of the V Hoard's unworn examples the existence of the Q became obvious.
By a happy coincidence after reading an early draft of the V-Hoard paper I spotted this coin on eBay. Neither the previous owners nor the previous dealer had noticed this Q on the shield or the strange style of the coin that separates it from most Q victoriati.
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