LOWER DANUBE. Geto-Dacians. 1st century BC. Denarius (Silver, 20 mm, 4.88 g, 3 h), possibly imitating a Roman Republican denarius of C. Valerius Flaccus (82 BC). Winged and draped bust of Victory to right. Rev. Victoria (?) in biga right; around, imitative legend. Cf. Crawford 365/1c (for possible prototype of obverse). A highly unusual piece with a central bulge. Struck from worn dies, otherwise, good fine.


The central bulge is a later addition to the coin, most likely intended to increase its weight to a higher standard. At 4.88 g, it is markedly overweight for a denarius. The motivation for this adjustment remains unclear. Although there are Celtic precedents for adding metal to correct or enhance weight - for example, to bring an underweight imitation of a Thasian tetradrachm up to the full Attic standard (Leu Web Auction 33 (2025), 669) - in the present case we cannot determine which standard was intended, or why the modification was made.