C. Servilus Vatia. Denarius 82-80, AR 17 mm, 3.89 g, 4h. Laureate head of Apollo r.; behind, lituus and A, below chin, mark of value. Below neck truncation, ROMA. Rev. Horseman galloping l., holding round shield inscribed with M, spearing another horseman. In exergue, C SERVEIL. Babelon Servilia 7. Sydenham 720. RBW –. Crawford 370/1a.
An extremely rare variety with control mark A, only three specimens in private hands.
Lovely iridescent tone and unusually well centred and complete for the issue,
an insignificant edge scuff at seven o’clock on obverse,
otherwise about extremely fine

Ex Centauro sale 4, 2008, 181. This coin is sold with an export licence issued by the Republic of Italy.
RRC 370 is known in two varieties: 1a (letter A) and 1b (letter B). Among the 3 restored issues, this is the only one attempting a control letter system on the obverse. However it is still very difficult to understand it, since only two letters are known and A is exceedingly rare: there are only a few examples known, produced by two dies. It is missing in the famous RBW collection, Hersh's collection had the example in very poor condition now at the British Museum (inv. 2002,0102.3164), meaning he was not able to find a better one throughout his whole life. Baron d'Ailly had one (BnF Rep 18611) and the pieces in the JD collection were sold in NAC 78, 438.
The present coin has the same dies of Ailly's and Hesh's specimens. In a study still in progress (A. Campana), a sample of 138 pieces has been collected, containing only six of 370/1a, struck by two dies. The present specimen is the third in private hands.