Watch List notes:

ROMAN COINS

L. Hostilius Saserna, 48 BC. Denarius (Silver, 19mm, 3.87 g 3), Rome. Bearded male head to right, his hair straggling out behind him; cloak around neck and Gallic shield behind. Rev. L HOSTILIVS / SASERN Nude Gallic warrior, holding shield with his left hand and hurling spear with his right, standing left in a galloping biga being driven to right by a seated charioteer holding a whip. Crawford 448/2. RBW 1569. Sydenham 952. Beautifully toned. Some flatness on the obverse and with the reverse struck off center, otherwise, extremely fine.

The head on this famous coin has long been identified as that of Vercingetorix, the defeated Gallic leader who graced Caesar's triumph in Rome. This can not be proven but the head does have remarkably individualistic and natural features, and it must surely represent an actual Gaulish captive seen by the die engraver.