Crawford 324/1, Roman Republic, 101 BC., moneyer Marcus Lucilius Rufus, Denarius

Roman Republic (Rome mint 101 BC.), moneyer Marcus Lucilius Rufus.
Denarius (19-21,5 mm, 3,81 g), silver, axis irregular alignment ?? (ca. 70°),
Obv.: Head of Roma right, wearing winged Attic helmet; PV behind, all within laurel-wreath.
Rev.: M. LVCILI in exergue, RVF above, Victory in fast biga right, holding reins in left hand and whip in right.
Crawford 324/1 ; Sydenham 599 ; BMCRR Rome 1613 ; Bab. Lucilia 1 .
dark toned silver patina

PV on the obverse indicates: ex argento publico , struck from public silver of the Roman state.

For this type, Mr. Crawford found an estimate of 170 obverse dies and 212 reverse dies.

Marcus Lucilius Rufus is only known by his coins. He may be the father of Marcus Lucilius Rufus, prefect of the plebs in 64 BC.
The year 101 BC is still dominated by unrest. Marius defeats the Cimbrians and puts an end to the barbarian invasions in Gaul. In the East, Mithridates VI of Pontus and Nicomedes III of Bithynia shared Paphlagonia and occupied Galatia.