Here's a fishy tale. Once upon a time, some 2100 years ago, the man who usually made the clay moulds for the Thurrock cast potin coins went off sick. Maybe a mead hangover? The young lad, Vep Vellaunos, who normally just watched the master moneyer making the moulds spotted his chance and decided to design his own reverse... somewhat differently. He tipped the bull on its nose, gave it a fish's tail, bent the exergual line and scribed two Vs above the fish-tailed bull with his stylus, instead of the usual MA. Yes, this is an excessively rare variant, with no others recorded. Just one of over 130 coins in Chris Rudd's January Sale, all greatly reduced in price.                                                                          5.12.05