507. L. Valerius Acisculus AR Denarius. Rome, 45 BC. Diademed bust of Apollo Soranus right; ACISCVLVS and axe behind; XVI monogram above / Valeria Luperca riding a heifer right, holding a veil above; L•VALERIVS in exergue. Sydenham 998a; Crawford 474/1b. 3.16g, 19mm, 8h. Good Extremely Fine. Lovely old cabinet tone.
400
This type refers to the legendary origin of the family. Plutarch relates that when the plague visited Falerii, in Etruria, the oracle announced that the scourge would only cease by the annual sacrifice of a virgin to Juno. This superstition was long maintained till the lot fell on a young virgin named Valeria Luperca; when she drew forth the sword to slay herself an eagle descended and carried off this weapon and deposited on the altar a hammer, it then threw the sword on a heifer grazing nearby. When the virgin saw this she sacrificed the heifer and taking the hammer she went from house to house restoring the sick by gently touching them gently with the hammer, and telling them to be healed.
508. C. Vibius Varus AR Denarius. Rome, 42 BC. Ivy-wreathed bust of Bacchus right / Panther springing left, toward garlanded altar upon which sit thyrsus and mask; VARVS to left; C•VIBIVS in exergue. Crawford 494/36. 3.75g, 19mm, 7h. Fleur De Coin. An excellent example, struck on a large flan and attractively toned.
400
509. C. Vibius Varus AR Denarius. Rome, 42 BC. Bust of Minerva right, in crested Corinthian helmet and aegis / Hercules standing left, holding club and lion’s skin; C•VIBIVS to right; VARVS to left. Crawford 494/38; Sydenham 1140. 4.05g, 20mm, 5h. Near Extremely Fine. Minor areas of flatness, but very well preserved for the issue. Attractively toned.
300
This coin with its clearly military overtones should be seen in the context of the impending conflict between the Triumvirs and the assassins of Caesar. Minerva, in her magnificent panoply and the legendary hero Hercules (with whom Mark Antony identified and claimed descent from) are here invoked on behalf of the avenging Triumvirs.
510 511 510. P. Clodius M. f. Turrinus AR Denarius. Rome, 42 BC. Laureate bust of Apollo right; lyre behind / Diana standing facing, with bow and quiver over shoulder, holding lighted torch in each hand; P•CLODIVS right; M•F• on left. Sydenham 1117; Crawford 494/23. 3.92g, 21mm, 1h. Fleur De Coin. Hints of toning.
200
Regardless of his entirely feminine appearance, this obverse bust is indeed that of Apollo. The image, along with that of his sister represented on the reverse, would have been chosen to propagandise the Apollinarian games, which were splendidly celebrated for the victory gained by Ventidius over the Parthians. 511. C. Clodius Vestalis AR Denarius. Rome, 41 BC. Laureate, draped bust of Flora right; lily at shoulder; C•CLODIVS C•F• around / Veiled Vestal Virgin seated left, holding a two-handled bowl; VESTALIS to left. Crawford 512/2; Sydenham 1135. 3.88g, 19mm, 7h. Choice Extremely Fine.
300
This coin was struck by Caius Clodius, who fought under Brutus, monetary quatuovir in 43 BC. The head of Flora recalls the fetes instituted by Clodius Certho in 240 BC, which were probably made annual in 173 BC by C. Servilius, whose son struck coins in 74-50 BC with the legend C SERVEIL C F FLORAL PRIMVS (see lot 484). The type of the Vestal recalls either Quinta Claudia (c. 212 BC), who, when a ship laden with things sacred to Cybele struck in the shallows of the Tiber, called upon the goddess to vindicate her innocence, and drew the vessel safe to shore; or the Vestal Virgin Claudia (143 BC) who, when her father Appius Claudius Pulcher resolved to have a triumph contrary to the will of the people, walked by his chariot to the Capitol, so that it might not be lawful for any of the tribunes to interfere and forbid it.
141