45
3069
L. Valerius Acisculus. Silver Denarius (3.54 g), 45 BC.
Rome. ACIS-
CVLVS behind, diademed head of Apollo Soranus right surmounted
by star; behind, pick-axe.
Reverse:
L VALERIVS in exergue, Europa
seated on bull walking right, holding veil which billows out above her.
Crawford 474/1a; HCRI 90; Sydenham 998; Valeria 17. Boldly struck
and perfectly centered with gorgeous iridescent toning.
Superb Ex-
tremely Fine.
It has traditionally been believed that the reverse shows the heroine
Valeria Luperca riding a heifer. However, the animal is clearly a bull,
which means that the seated female can only be Europa. The myth
of Europa is that she was a Phoenician princess whose beauty at-
tracted the attention of the god Zeus. Desiring her, he turned himself
into a magnificent white bull and intermingled with her father’s herd.
When she saw him, she approached him and stroked his side, then
leaped onto his back. Zeus immediately ran out to sea and swam to
Crete, where Europa became the island’s first queen. Subsequently,
Zeus arranged the stars, known as the constellation Taurus, in the
shape of the white bull which he had assumed during this episode.
Estimated Value ............................................................... $1,400 - 1,700
Ex Heritage 3020 (1 September 2012), 25152.
3070
P. ClodiusM.f. Turrinus. SilverDenarius (3.3 g), 42BC.
Rome. Radiate head of Sol right; behind, quiver.
Reverse:
P CLODIVS / M F in two lines in exergue, crescent moon
surmounted by semicircle of five stars. Crawford 494/21;
HCRI 182; Sydenham 1115; Claudia 17. A trifle weak
around the right obverse borders and on the correspond-
ing portion of the reverse. Lightly toned.
Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value ............................................. $600 - 700
Ex Tkalec (8 September 2008), 182.
