Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. L. Valerius Acisculus. 45 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.66 g, 12h). Rome mint.

Electronic Auction 458
Lot: 301. Estimated: $ 500

Selections from the Andrew McCabe Collection, Silver

Sold For $ 850. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. L. Valerius Acisculus. 45 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.66 g, 12h). Rome mint. Head of Apollo right, wearing taenia, star above; pickax (acisculus) to left; ACISCVLVS downward to left; all within laurel wreath / Head of Valeria Luperca or the Aphrodisian Sibyl to right; L•VALERIVS downward around right; all within laurel wreath. Crawford 474/3a; CRI 92; Sydenham 1000; Valeria 14; Type as RBW 1661. Toned, weakly struck and off center. VF. Very rare.

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, purchased from Gert Boeresma, 2011.

The Sibyl of Cumae showed herself to me in a strange and fearful atmosphere on a wet day in October 2010: this is a true story. There was a fierce and drenching storm covering the Bay of Naples, and when I arrived at the gate of Cumae, I was soaked through. Going forward rather than back made sense, though not to the guardians of the archaeological park who shook their heads in concern as I wended along the inclined road towards – towards I didn't know what, with no map or guide book of Cumae – towards a very large dark tunnel, where waiting for me was the Sybilline hound and its puppy, who gave clear “follow me” signals, through the tunnel, on the other side was a desolate wooded hillside with unmarked paths. Without another marker, I followed the dog, who clambered a cliff ledge, barked to the skies, and leaped down and ran towards the cliff-face.

It dawned on my rain-drenched brain that the dog was leading me to the Sibyl as she howled into the trapezoidal cave entrance. There was thunder and rain and no-one else around. The dog bounded into the cave, checking I would follow one last time, leading me into a mystical passage, just as seen by Aeneas when he consulted the Cumaean Sibyl, who conducted him through the Underworld and revealed his destiny to him. Finally, I was at the heart of the cave, but the hound had vanished and I was alone. Had I met the Sibyl? Only later I regretted that I failed to catch the leaves with the Sibyl's own prophecy for me. A photo I took of the hound barking at the cave is here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ahala_rome/48855443971/. N.B. regarding this coin, cf. Cahn 68 (26 November 1930), lot 99, which has a very similar strike, but likely not the same coin. [Andrew McCabe]

Closing Date and Time: 18 December 2019 at 11:40:00 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 18% buyer’s fee.