Crawford 286/1, Roman Republic, 116-115 BC., moneyer Marcus Sergius Silus, Denarius

Roman Republic (Rome mint 116-115 BC.), moneyer Marcus Sergius Silus.
Denarius (18-19,5 mm, 3,83 g), silver, axis medal alignment ?? (ca. 0°),
Obv.: [RO]MA - EX. S. C , head of Roma with winged helmet right; in field l., mark of value XVI in monogram. “Rome , value 16 As / by decree of the Senate“
Rev.: Q / M. SERGI / SILVS , helmeted horseman l., holding sword and severed head of an enemy; before, Q. “Quaestor / Marcus Sergius Silus”
Crawford 286/1 ; Sydenham 534 ; Sergia 1 .

Maybe, as E. Babelon supposed, Marcus Sergius was the father of Lucius Sergius Catiline, the conspirator (108-62 BC).
Marcus Sergius Silus minted coins as quaestor, by special decree of the Senate. The monetary quaestor was immediately placed above the monetary triumvirs and could sometimes strike in his own name. On the reverse, it is an ancestor of the coin bearing the same name as him who distinguished himself during the Second Punic War. He had lost his right arm in combat and replaced it with an articulated iron arm, which explains why he holds his sword with his left hand on the denarius and henceforth fought with his left hand. During two campaigns he had received twenty-three wounds. He besieged and captured Cremona, relieved Piacenza and captured twelve enemy camps in Gaul. On the reverse, the severed head is that of a Gaul for H. Grueber, E. Sydenham and D. Sear and normally has no connection with the recent victory of Fabius and Domitius over the Arvernian and Allobroge coalition in 121 BC.