Sale: Nomos 5, Lot: 220. Estimate CHF450.  Closing Date: Monday, 24 October 2011.  Sold For CHF1500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

C. Marius C.f. Capito. 81 BC. Denarius serratus (Silver, 3.92 g 10), Rome. C.MARI.C.F.CAPIT.XXXI Draped bust of Ceres to right, wearing grain wreath and earring. Rev. Plowman with yoke of two oxen to left; above, XXXI; in exergue, S.C over butterfly. Babelon (Maria) 8. Crawford 378/1b (citing Paris 12488 for this symbol). Sydenham 744a. Attractive and well struck. . Extremely fine.

The denarii with the control symbol on the reverse are the scarcest of the issues of C. Marius Capito. Serrate denarii were apparently made to appeal to the Gauls and Germans, who believed that the cut edges allowed the interior to be seen and was a protection against plated forgeries.