Crawford 264/1, Roman Republic, C. Servilius Vatia, Denarius

Roman Republic (Rome mint 127 BC.), C. Servilius Vatia.
AR Denarius (3.88 g, 18-19 mm).
Obv.: ROMA below, head of Roma right, wearing winged helmet with six-pointed star on flap, earring, and pearl necklace; lituus behind, six-pointed star (value mark XVI monogram, indicating 16 As) below chin.
Rev.: C. SERVEIL in exergue, helmeted warrior on horseback charging left, holding spear and shield inscribed M; horseman on left, defending with sword and shield.
Crawford 264/1 ; Sydenham 483 ; BMCRR Rome 1166-1167 ; Bab. Servilia 6 .

This coin refers to M. Servilius Pulex Geminus, a hero of the second Punic war. He was a friend of Aemilius Paullus, the victor at Pydna over the Macedonians. Paullus owed the battle tried plebeian Servilius Geminus his triumph: When the comitia, where the soldiers had to decide, refused the triumph to the unpopular patrician Paullus, Servilius gave a speech in favour of the commander, showing all his wounds he had obtained from the 23 single combats against the Carthagians. His intercession convinced the soldiers and Paullus was called imperator and given a triumph. One scene of Servilius's many fights is shown on this reverse. The lituus on the obverse refers to his office as augur.