This attractive denarius of Spurius Afranius belongs to the mid-2nd century BC, a period in which Roman Republican silver coinage adhered closely to long-standing iconographic traditions while increasingly asserting individual moneyers’ identities. The obverse presents the familiar helmeted head of Roma, a potent symbol of Roman authority and civic identity, accompanied by the mark of value X, still customary for denarii of this era.

On the reverse, Victory charges forward in a dynamic biga, an enduring emblem of military success and Roman expansion during the Republic’s formative imperial phase. The moneyer’s name, SAFRA, appears below the horses, while ROMA is neatly enclosed within a linear frame, reinforcing the state authority under which the issue was struck.

Examples with clear legends and balanced centering, such as this piece, remain desirable, particularly when paired with an old and well-documented provenance. The pedigree to a private purchase from Fred Shore in 1987 lend the coin an added layer of historical and collecting interest, firmly situating it within the tradition of long-held cabinet pieces.