M. Sergius Silus. AR Denarius 116 or 115 BC
Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma r.; behind, ROMA * and before, EX·S·C.
Reverse: Horseman l., holding sword and a severed head in l. hand; below horse, Q / M·SERGI and in exergue, SILVS.
Reference: Babelon Sergia 1. Sydenham 544. RBW 1115. Crawford 286/1.
Size: 19.00mm Weight: 3.90g Conservation: Attractive old cabinet tone, Good Very Fine/Very Fine.
From a European collection. Ex Naville sale 60, 365.
M. Sergius Silus was a republican moneyer, not known to have progressed beyond the quaestorship. He is not the father of Cataline (Lucius Sergius Silus, q.v.), but belongs to another branch of the family. (BMC) He strikes in commemoration of his more famous grandfather of the same name. A description of Marcus Sergius is found in the seventh book of Pliny's Natural History, published in AD 77:
«Nobody - at least in my opinion - can rightly rank any man above Marcus Sergius, although his great-grandson Catiline shames his name. In his second campaign Sergius lost his right hand. In two campaigns he was wounded twenty-three times, with the result that he had no use in either hand or either foot: only his spirit remained intact. Although disabled, Sergius served in many subsequent campaigns. He was twice captured by Hannibal - no ordinary foe- from whom twice he escaped, although kept in chains and shackles every day for twenty months. He fought four times with only his left hand, while two horses he was riding were stabbed beneath him.
He had a right hand made of iron for him and, going into battle with this bound to his arm, raised the siege of Cremona, saved Placentia and captured twelve enemy camps in Gaul - all of which exploits were confirmed by the speech he made as praetor when his colleagues tried to debar him as infirm from the sacrifices. What piles of wreaths he would have amassed in the face of a different enemy!»
Referência : RRC 286/1
Fonte : https://finds.org.uk/romancoins/moneyers...
Coleção : I Coins of the Roman Republic