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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 2201570, member: 19463&quot;]As always we have a fine write-up by AJ.&nbsp; I recall once seeing (but could not find it today) a discussion of the elephant variety shown on these coins.&nbsp; Today we recognize African and Asian but the Titus shows a round eared elephant not really like either.&nbsp; The question is where did Titus get his elephants.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]428918[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]428919[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>A matter AJ is not likely to find of great interest is coin wear caused by the silver alloy used in this period.&nbsp; His perfect coins are more amazing when you consider that very high silver content coins wear more like gold than like the alloyed coins of the next century.&nbsp; My two denarii are very worn and much more like most you will see.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Elephant of Titus shoes the TRP number nine recorded as a subtractive numeral IX which is unusual for ancient Romans.&nbsp; My Venus above shows nine as the more common VIIII.&nbsp; I have not done a study of all the Roman numerals shown on coins but this IX is unusual enough that it deserves mention.&nbsp; There is also some disagreement as to what is shown by the diamond pattern on the Titus variety elephant. AJ&#039;s is as clear as these get and supports that it was just how they showed elephant skin texture.&nbsp; Some claim the elephant was wearing patterned armor or fancy cloth as we see in India today.&nbsp; My Septimius Severus example shows similar cross-hatching but much more normally shaped ears.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]428932[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>My Commodus as is too worn to add much to this discussion but he does have nice long tusks.&nbsp; The ears appear squared.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]428936[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Of course we get good elephants from India, Baktria and surrounding regions which we assume are all Asian varieties.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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