Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 603. Estimate $400.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $425. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

C. Servilius Vatia. Restored issue, 82-80 BC. AR Denarius (3.87 g, 12h). Rome mint. ROMA below, laureate head of Apollo right, hair rolled back and falling in two locks down neck; B above lituus behind; mark of value below chin / C • SERVEIL in exergue, battle on horseback between a man wielding shield in right hand and sword in raised left hand and man (M. Servilius Pulex Geminus) galloping left, and piercing with spear the other horseman, and holding shield inscribed M (Marcus). Crawford 370/1b; Sydenham 720; Kestner 3180-3181; BMCRR Rome 1169-1170; Servilia 7. Good VF, lightly toned, small bruise on cheek.

The reverse type celebrates M. Servilius Pulex Geminus, who was elected augur in 211 BC and held that office for about forty years, and was consul in 202 BC. According to Plutarch, he received numerous wounds in twenty-three single combats, being victorious in all (Plutarch, Paulus Aemilius, xxxi).