Sale: Triton XII, Lot: 498. Estimate $1500.  Closing Date: Monday, 5 January 2009.  Sold For $1800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

L. Hostilius Saserna. 48 BC. AR Denarius (4.03 g, 9h). Rome mint. Head of Gallic captive (Vercingetorix?) right; Gallic shield behind / Two warriors in galloping biga right: one driving, holding whip in left hand and reins in right, and the other, facing backwards, holding shield in left hand and brandishing spear in right; L • HOSTILIVS above, SASERN below. Crawford 448/2a; CRI 18; Sydenham 952; Kestner 3538-40; BMCRR Rome 3994-5; Hostilia 2. Good VF, areas of minor porosity and marks, slight flatness of strike on neck. Rare.

The obverse portrait has sometimes been identified as the famous chief of the Arverni, Vercingetorix, whom Julius Caesar captured in 52 BC in Alesia. The reverse is of particular historical interest, inasmuch as it depicts the manner in which chariots were used in Celtic Gaul, and perhaps in Britain too.