Elephants on Roman coins -- including my RR Denarius No. 37

In the nine months (as of yesterday) since I joined Coin Talk -- and I really can't believe that I've posted more than 2,000 messages in that time, although I do appreciate the nearly 10,000 likes! -- I don't believe that there's been a thread for people to show their elephants on Roman coins, or ancient coins in general. Given that I happen to be very fond of elephants (both in real life and in numismatics), and that a couple of new elephant coins have arrived in the mail recently, I thought it was time for such a thread. I have only four elephant coins in total, and here they are in chronological order:

The first one has an elephant that's really rather crude in design -- I wonder if the engraver ever even saw one -- but I like it a lot anyway.

Roman Republic, Q. Caecilius Metullus, AR Denarius, 81 BCE. Obv. Head of Pietas right, wearing diadem; below chin, stork standing right / Rev. Elephant standing left, wearing bell around neck; in exergue, Q•C•M•P•I [Q. Caecilius Metellus Imperator]. Crawford 374/1, RSC I Caecilia 43, Sear RCV I 301 (ill.), Sydenham 750, BMCRR Spain 43. 18 mm., 3.9 g.*

The first photo is the dealer's; I'm adding two photos I just took simply because I think they represent the actual color better:







*See Sear RCV I at p. 128: “The issuer strikes as imperator in Northern Italy where he was campaigning on behalf of Sulla. The following year he was to be the dictator’s colleague in the consulship.” See also Crawford Vol. I p. 390: "This issue was produced by Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius, serving as a Sullan commander in the fight against Carrinas, Norbanus and Carbo. The obverse type [of Pietas] . . . alludes to his cognomen, acquired for his part in securing the restoration from exile of his father Q. Caecilius Metullus Numidicus.” The stork depicted in front of Pietas “is an emblem of family piety and an occasional adjunct of the goddess.” Jones, John Melville, A Dictionary of Ancient Roman Coins (London, Seaby, 1990) p. 243, under entry for Pietas. (Apparently, the Romans believed that the stork demonstrated family loyalty by returning to the same nest every year, and that it took care of its parents in old age.) Crawford also states at Vol. I p. 390 that “[t]he reverse type of an elephant recalls the capture of Hasdrubal’s elephants by L. Caecilius Metullus in 251 [BCE]” (also commemorated by an elephant denarius of C. Caecilius Metullus Caprarius in 125 BCE; Crawford 269/1, RSC I Caecilia 14). The elephant continued to be associated thereafter with the family (see the elephant denarius of Q. Caecilius Metullus Pius Scipio issued in 47-46 BCE; Crawford 459/1, RSC I Caecilia 47). The family was known for its opposition to Caesar.

As many of you know, Metullus Pius elephant coins like this one, given that the family were well-known to be opponents of Caesar, have been used to support the theory (as presented by Michael Harlan and elucidated eloquently by @Severus Alexander) that Caesar's own elephant/snake coin was intended to portray the snake positively and the elephant negatively -- contrary to what the modern eye tends to see.

A couple of questions about the elephant on this coin: First, is that supposed to be hair along the top of its back? Second, what in the world is going on with its left hind leg? I get that it apparently starts up near the elephant's back, but what is it that looks like a huge gouge out of the elephant's side around that leg, and what is the length of flesh that appears to cover part of the leg towards the bottom? Is it possible that it's supposed to be the tail?

The next three are all Imperial coins:

Antoninus Pius AE As, 148 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XII / Rev. Elephant walking left, MV-NIFICENTIA AVG; in exergue COS IIII/S C in two lines. RIC III 863, Sear RCV II 4308 (var.), BMCRE 1840. 29 mm., 10.4 g. (Issued to commemorate games and spectacles held to celebrate 900th anniversary of Rome.)





I love the traces of coppery color showing through.

I did a search to see if anyone has posted the type here, and couldn't find any examples of the left-facing elephant variety; only the one facing right. I guess the left-facing one is less common.

The next coin is missing a good part of the reverse legend, but I think the elephant is really adorable!

Septimius Severus, AR Denarius 197 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIII / Rev. Elephant advancing right, MVNIFICENTIA AVG. RIC IV-1 82, RSC III 348, Sear RCV II 6317. 18 mm., 3.32 g.






Finally, a coin that isn't technically part of Philip I's SAECVLARES AVGG series -- it has a different reverse legend, and no officina mark -- but is generally believed to have been issued for the same occasion, namely the games and spectacles held in celebration of Rome's 1000th anniversary:

Philip I AR Antoninianus, ca. 247 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Radiate, draped, & cuirassed bust right, IMP PHILIPPVS AVG/ Rev. Elephant walking left, bearing driver holding goad, AETERNITAS AVGG. RIC IV-3 58, RSC IV 17, Sear RCV III 8921. 23 mm., 4.2 g.





Please post your own examples of elephants on ancient coins, whether Greek, Roman, or other. One request: please no elephant-skin headdresses (even though I have a couple of coins showing them myself), elephant heads, or other parts of dismembered elephants. I like my elephants whole and entire!

 

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These elephant theme coins are so nice.

 

Q. CAECILIUS METELLUS PIUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS CAECILIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Diademed head of Pietas right; stork standing right before
REVERSE: Q C M P I beneath elephant walking left w/bell hanging from neck
Northern Italy, 79 BC-77 BC
3.75g; 18mm
Caecilia 43; Crawford 374/1; Syd 750; Sear 301

TITUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M, laureate head right
REVERSE: TRP IX IMP XV COS VIII PP, elephant walking left
Struck at Rome, 80 AD
2.5g, 17mm
RIC 115

SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIIII, laureate head right
REVERSE: MVNIFICENTIA AVG, Elephant wearing cuirass walking right
Struck at Rome, 196 197 AD
3.63g, 17mm
RIC 100, RSC 349

PHILIP I
AE Sestertius
OBVERSE: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, laureate and draped bust right
REVERSE: AETERNITAS AVGG, elephant and driver walking left, SC in ex.
Struck at Rome, 247-8 AD
20.6g, 28mm
RIC 161a

 

..nice!...shoot mrs D..you fit right in here and congrats on #37 & 2000 likes(so far)...those elephant coins have given the slip so far..but i'll keep tryin'

 

Those are great. I would love a Titus elephant coin, but I almost never see them for sale.

 

Thanks! But don't short-change me, now, the 2,000 is posts, not likes! Also, I haven't been a Mrs. for a while. Just plain old Ms. these days! Although now that I've reached a certain age, people tend to call me Mrs. anyway.

 

Splendid examples! And I LOVE your new RR
I do love elephants on ancients and so did the Seleukids:

Which surely inspired the Metelii, who were elefans to use the Macedonian shield with an elephant's head:

And various other elephants:

 

..oops...right!

 

Those are some nice elephant examples Donna. Sadly, I have no elephants though I'm hoping to get the common Caesar example soon. I did pick up a hippo on a coin of Alexandria last week but have yet to receive the coin. Should be good for a "hippo" thread.

 

The only hippo I have is the one on the reverse of an Otacilia Severa coin, part of the Philip I SAECVLARES AVGG series. I wonder how many others there are. I guess I'll find out if you start that thread!

 

Excellent elephants @DonnaML

A pity I have already posted my Caesar/Elephant earlier today, it's my only one.

I have a strange thing to show that may be apropriate though : I don't know if the celator was in a fun mood that day, but I really think the wings of the caduceus on that denarius look like two elephant heads, don't they ?


M. Plaetorius M.f. Cestianus. Denarius
Rome mint, c. 69 BC
Male head right (Mercury ?) with flowing hair. Behind symbol
M·PLAETORI – CEST·EX·S·C Winged caduceus
18 mm, 3,86 gr
Ref : RCV #344, RSC Plaetoria # 5, Sydenham # 807, RBW # 1453, Crawford # 405/5
From the E.E. Clain-Stefanelli collection

Q

 

Very much so. That had to be intentional, right? Have you found any other dies that look like that?

 

Unfortunately, no

Q

 

Donna, That's an impressive herd of elephants you've got ! Did you spot lot 444 at Roma Auction XX ? That impressive beast hammered for 4,400 B.P. .

 

Memorial procession of DIVVS Augustus


TIBERIUS, SESTERTIUS, BMCRE, Vol. I, Rome, No. 126, AD 36-37
(35mm, 22.6gm)
TIBERIUS, SESTERTIUS, RIC, Vol. I, Rome, No. 68, AD 36-37
Cataloged in Wildwinds under Augustus - Sear 1784

Obverse depiction: Augustus, radiate, togate, holding laurel branch in r. hand and long sceptre in l., seated on throne, placed on a car, drawn l. by four elephants, each bearing a mahout on its neck. The side of the car is ornamented with shields.
Inscription across top in three lines DIVO AVGVSTO SPQR

Reverse depiction: Large, centered S C
Inscription clockwise from top: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVST PM TR POT XXXIIX

Congratulations on your 2000 posts Donna - always interesting and thoughtful.

 

Nice OP post and coins, @DonnaML ...

I dunno, some time we should do a DIS.MEM..BERED Elephant thread...

Here are a few of my whole Elephants:


Etruria 3rd C BCE AE 18mm 4.76g Hd African r Elephant r letter below SNG Cop 48 HNI 69 SNG Paris 138-140 SNG Morcom 44 RARE



Baktria Apollodotos I 180-160 BCE Square AR Drachm 20mm 2.4g Elephant Zebu-Brahman SNG ANS 324-327



INDIA Sunga Dynasty 187-78 BCE Cast Copper 1-2 Karshapana 15mm 2.5g Elephant flag swastika taurine symbol - Tree 3-arched hill hollow cross MACW 4378

 

Great coins DonnaML, and you've been quite busy on this forum indeed!

I really love elephants too. One of the many thinks I like about them, is that, despite their size, they have a graceful appearance and their movement is really elegant.

Below I've shown my three coins with elephants. And two photo's of elephants I've encountered on one of our trips in Africa. I had the first one pressed on canvas and have it up on the wall.

 

Limes, You're so right about the beauty & grace of elephants, they can be fearless adversaries too. They are very family oriented with the largest female leading the herd. Elephants have almost human-like emotions & express grief too.

 

I believe most of the usual suspects have been posted before I got here but I'll add the Commodus as.


Perhaps less popular are some Eastern tuskers:

Vasisthiputra Sri Pulamavi, 131-159 AD Bi karshapana 18mm

Gautamiputra Sri Yajna Satakarni, Bi karshapana 18mm later? 2nd century AD


Last are two lead pieces (PB13-14) of the Ikshvakus probably issued c.300AD but what I don't know about these coins seems larger than the critters on them. I bought two (right and left) in 2011 and never learned anything about them.

 

You are right. I don't see them often, but they are not listed as scarce or rare. I would like to own one that is not so rough. Perhaps one of these days.....