Watch List notes:

Imperatorial Issues

L. Hostilius Saserna. Denarius 48, AR 3.94 g. Bare head of female Gaul r.; behind, carnyx. Rev. HOSTILIVS – SASERNA Diana of Ephesus standing facing, holding long spear in l. hand; to her r., stag. Babelon Hostilia 4. Sydenham 953. Sear Imperators 19. RBW 1570. Crawford 448/3.
Virtually as struck and almost Fdc

Ex Gemini sale VI, 2008, 410.

The Saserna coins minted for Julius Caesar are an interesting group. Clearly related to his conquest of Gaul, these issues show his early, and continual, flair for propaganda on coinage. This issue with the female head of a captive Gaul with the carnyx (Gallic war horn) behind head relates specifically to his battles in that province. The reverse type of the archaic statue of Artemis (Diana) seems to relate to an early episode in the battle between Pompey and Julius Caesar. When Caesar was faced with the decision to "fight a general without an army or an army without a general" he wisely chose to first attack Pompey's forces in Spain rather than chase Pompey into Greece. Along the way to Spain, Caesar had to quell support of Pompey from the city of Massilia, which had remained loyal to the Pompeian effort. Massilia had a magnificent temple to Artemis and, once the city was subdued, Caesar seemed to use this reverse image of the temple statue as a mockery to Pompey and his supporters. Really a nice example of this otherwise common coin. MSG.