[ 3302] L. Valerius Acisculus moneyer Silver Denar ...

[ 3302] L. Valerius Acisculus moneyer Silver Denarius (21mm, 3.33 gm), Rome, 45 B.C., Artistic style. Rare. Reference: Valeria 17; B.M.C. 3996; Syd. 998; Craw. 474/1a Head of Apollo Soranus right, ACISCVLVS and pick-axe (acisculus) behind, star above. Valeria Luperca on the heifer right, holding veil, L . VALERIVS in exergue. 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 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 his 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 touching them gently with the hammer, and telling them to be healed. Provided with certificate of authenticity. CERTIFIED AUTHENTIC by Sergey Nechayev, PhD - Numismatic Expert Payment & Shipping: Will accept payments via PayPal. = MM_contentVersion; } else if (navigator.userAgent && navigator.userAgent.indexOf("MSIE")>=0 && (navigator.appVersion.indexOf("Win") != -1)) { document.write('\n'); document.write('on error resume next\n'); document.write('MM_FlashCanPlay = ( IsObject(CreateObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash." & MM_contentVersion)))\n\n'); } if (MM_FlashCanPlay) { document.write(''); document.write(' '); document.write(' '); document.write(' '); document.write(' '); document.write(' '); document.write(' '); document.write(' '); document.write(' '); document.write(' '); document.write(' '); } else { document.write(' '); document.write(' '); document.write(' This Vendio Gallery is best viewed with Macromedia Flash Player 6or higher. '); document.write(' Click here to get the latestMacromedia Flash Player. '); document.write(' '); document.write(' '); document.write(' '); } //--> Your browser does not support JavaScript. To view this page, enable JavaScript if it is disabled or upgrade your browser.