Cr 448/3 L. Hostilius Saserna AR Denarius

48 b.c.e., Rome
o: Female Gallic head r. with long hair; behind, carnyx
rL L·HOSTILIVS – SASERNA Artemis of Ephesus standing facing, holding spear, w/ r. hand on head of prancing stag.

HCRI 19. Hostilia 4.
3.64 gm.

Issued by an obscure Caesarian moneyer, this type advertises Caesar’s capture of Massilia, an unwanted diversion on his rapid first strike “I go to Spain to fight an army without a general…” against the Pompeians.
Caesar, always quick to turn necessity into virtue, advertises his mercy in addition to his time-consuming victory, the female Gaul not being clearly captive (as on issues reflecting the Gallic War itself), as mostly-friendly-Greek Massilia was spared the usual sack, massacre and enslavement. He also honors their favorite imported Eastern goddess on the reverse (which may be a depiction of the cult statue from the recently non-sacked temple).
Notably, the defense was led by Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, who escaped with his son, soon to be Imperator Gnaeus, whose issue Cr. 519/2 is described in this gallery. (Lucius was killed after Pharsalus, supposedly by Antonius himself.)