Owner Comments:
C. Numonius Vaala (43 or 41 BC). AR denarius (21mm, 3.86 gm, 10h). NGC Choice XF 3/5 - 4/5. Rome. C. NVMONIVS VAALA, bare head of Numonius Vaala (or Julius Caesar) right / VAALA in exergue, soldier advancing left, holding sword and shield, attacking a palisade behind which are two similarly armed defenders. Crawford 514/2. Sydenham 1087. Numonia 2. Very Rare. Attractive cabinet deep toning.
From the Historical Scholar Collection. Ex the Collection of a Director, (Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 105, 10 May 2017), lot 714; Kunst und Münzen 14 (2 June 1975), lot 491
C. Numonius Vaala's reverse type evidently refers to an ancient act of valor achieved by a distant ancestor of his, when they scaled the walls of an enemy city. The first soldier to breach the walls was awarded the corona vallaris, or "wall crown." The cognomen Vaala became an hereditary title among the Numonii, and was displayed proudly by the first member of the family to reach the political office of moneyer. Some have noted the strong resemblance of the head on the obverse to numismatic portraits of the recently deceased Julius Caesar. (Source: Heritage Auctions catalog)