Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius (c. 130 BC – 63 BC) was a pro-Sullan politician and general who was Roman consul in 80 BC. He was the principal Senatorial commander during the Sertorian War, fighting alongside Pompeius Magnus. In 100 BC, after his father was banished as a result of the political maneuverings of Gaius Marius and Lucius Appuleius Saturninus, Metellus Pius launched a campaign to have his father brought back from exile. He produced a petition in 99 BC to this effect, and his constant pleading on the subject resulted in Quintus Calidius, the Plebeian Tribune of 98 BC passing a law which allowed his father to return. As a result of his fidelity, he was given the agnomen “Pius” for the constancy and inflexibility with which he fought for his father's political rehabilitation and return to Rome. Q. CAECILIUS METELLUS PIUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS CAECILIA AR Denarius OBVERSE: Diademed head of Pietas right, stork before REVERSE: IMPER in exergue, lituus and jug, all within laurel wreath Spanish Mint 81 BC 3.8g; 20mm Crawford 374/2; Sydenham 751; Caecilia 44 Ex: Barry Murphy In the coinage of the Roman Republic, a jug and lituus appear as a paired group of symbols; the earliest use is by Sulla, the last on issues of Antony in 39BC. In ritual context, the jug and littus refer to the pontifical and augural authority over the preceding political action. From the political context of each issue, the symbols allude to the ritual to legitimize military power. Feel free to post coins with ritual implements or anything you feel associated.
Excellent coin and write-up @Bing ! Love that Denarius... Just my type, and I do not have one. I covet this one! This is a cool time in late RR history. Is IMPER for Imperatus title of his father? I am traveling, but will try to find a coin that matches your calling!
A wonderful coin @Bing !!! LOVE the Pietas, stork and 'augural' devices!! BTW: How is the 'stork' related to Pietas?? A sacred bird??? Since I seem to be missing an appropriate RR type, I'll offer one of Vespasian with his 'Priestly implements':
Nice coin and write-up, Bing! Here's a pretty scarce Marc Antony 522/4 with lot's-o-symbols for your thread.
I don't have any Republicans with implements but I have some altars: Cilicia, Mopsos. AE20, 7.8g, 12h; 2nd century BC Obv.: Laureate head of Zeus right. Rev.: MOΨEATΩN; Lighted circular altar on tripod base with lion's legs, M − Π flanking. (I don't have my notes handy but if anyone is interested I can post them later.)
The Kaiser Roman Republic??? Imperatorial Period... Destruction of the Republic: JULIUS CAESAR AR Denarius (49 BC). 17 mm, 3.79 g Military mint traveling with Caesar Obv: Elephant advancing right, trampling on horned serpent. Rev: Emblems of the pontificate: simpulum, aspergillum, securis, and apex. Ref: Crawford 443/1
The stork represented devoted piety in particular, as the Romans believed that it demonstrated family loyalty by returning to the same nest every year, and that it took care of its parents in old age. Pietas fits well with the nature of Metellus Pius. Cicero defined pietas as the virtue "which admonishes us to do our duty to our country or our parents or other blood relations".
Sweet addition, Big Bro ... => here are a couple of examples with "those implements" on 'em (simpulum,lituus) Augustus, AE Quadrans Herennius Etruscus, AR Antoninianus Oh, and here is an example from M. Caecilius Q.f. Q.n. Metellus 82-80 BC Apollo & Shield with Elephant ... is that the same guy as your sweet new example?
View attachment 500473 VESPASIAN AR Denarius OBVERSE: IMP CAES VESP AVG P M COS IIII, laureate head right REVERSE: AVGVR TRI POT, sacrificial implements: simpulum, aspergillum, jug & lituus Struck at Rome, 72/3AD 2.6g, 18mm RIC 356 GETA Bilon Denarius OBVERSE: L SEPTIMIVS GETA CAES, draped bust right REVERSE: SEVERI PII AVG FIL, priestly implements: lituus, knife, jug, simpulum, & sprinkler Struck at Rome, 198-200 AD 2.7g, 17mm RIC 3, C 188 JULIUS CAESAR AR Denarius OBVERSE: COS.TERT.DICT.ITER. Head of Ceres right REVERSE: / AVGVR above, PONT.MAX. below. Simpulum, sprinkler, capis and lituus; M in right field Utica 46 BC 2.7g, 17mm Syd 1024; Crawford 467/1b JULIUS CAESAR AR Denarius OBVERSE: Elephant advancing right. CAESAR REVERSE: Simpulum, sprinkler, axe and apex. No legend Gaul 49 BC 3.2g, 18mm CRI 9, Sydenham 1006, RRC 443/1, S 1399
