C. Valerius Flaccus, 82 BC. Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.68 g, 6 h), Massalia. Winged and draped bust of Victory to right; before, winged caduceus. Rev. C•VAL•FLA - IMPERAT / EX•S•C Aquila between two signa inscribed H (hastati) and P (principes), respectively. Babelon (Valeria)12a. Crawford 365/1c. RBW -. Sydenham 747. Sharply struck and of fine style. Traces of cleaning and with light scratches on the obverse and a scuff on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.


Struck during C. Valerius Flaccus' Proconsulship in Gaul, the types on this denarius refer simply to military victory, and were ordered struck authority of the Senate in Rome. The coin was issued to pay the expenses incurred during Sulla's war with Quintus Sertorius in Spain. The caduceus control-mark in the obverse field is just one of many symbols that were used for this issue. Crawford, p. 381, notes that there is no more than one die for each control mark.