AR Denarius Rome, 77 or 73 BC 4.02g Obv: Helmeted head of Roma (R) with no control-mark behind. Rev: She-wolf standing (L) with front paw raised, 'ROMA' in field above and 'P·SATRIE/NVS' in exergue below. Crawford 388/1a (no control mark); Sydenham 781 Naville Numismatics Auction 68, Lot 302, 03/10/21 Rare variety without control-mark: The existence of "blank" dies (missing control mark) is known in other series, as in the deeply studied P.CREPVSI, RRC 361, where the first obverse "master" die is not marked with any letter or numeral and given the number RRC 361/1a (only one die), but also in other series not noted in RRC, like in RRC 391/2 (P. Debernardi: 'Some Unlisted Varieties and Rare Dies in Roman Republican Coinage', NC 2010, pp. 96). Being produced by only one die this type is very rare, known only in about eleven pieces, and this specimen, together with NAC 63, 197, is one of the best known. My specimen a double die-match with two in the Bibliothèque nationale de France. Dating note: Crawford, Greuber et al. place Satrienus as mint magistrate in 77 BC alongside Rutilius Flaccus, though Harlan argues strongly for an alternative date of 73 BC on account of a complete absence of their coins from the Kerassia and Hev-Szamos hoards.