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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;ByzantiumBabe, post: 6665375, member: 118394&quot;]Your Caecilius Metellus denarius a really cool piece of ancient history! </p><p><br /></p><p>Not only does it allude to a Roman&#039;s personal ancestry and history, it offers numismatic evidence to the melding of Greek and Roman cultures, as well as North Africa and Roman cultures. </p><p><br /></p><p>I&#039;m really into descriptions, for several reasons. Your descriptions are detailed, especially the XVI ligature note. May I offer a few more words to your detailed descriptions? Just subtle suggestions in parentheses below. </p><p><br /></p><p>With the advent of computers and word processing, I feel the old 19th-20th century abbreviated descriptions should go away. In fact, I think a description should stand alone and not assume one&#039;s looking at the coin or one is already very familiar with the piece. Here we go:</p><p><br /></p><p>Obverse: Head of Roma (facing) right with (hair arranged in three symmetrical locks) and (wearing) a winged, (peaked) helmet with a (three piece visor); also (wearing drop earring) and (pearl necklace); star on helmet flap, ROMA upwards behind, <b>*</b> (XVI ligature, mark of value = 16 asses) (in field) below chin, (all within a beaded border.)</p><p><br /></p><p>Reverse: (Greek) Macedonian shield, decorated (with a single pellet in five double crescents, many pellets around) and (tusked) elephant head in center wearing bell, M METELLVS Q F around beginning at 6:00, all within laurel wreath.</p><p><br /></p><p>Writing detailed &quot;stand along&quot; descriptions helps me obverse to actual coin design details, but also everyone else, including the non-collector and next generation ancient coin collectors, gets to better understand the amazing symbolism.</p><p><br /></p><p>For me, detailed descriptions are a learning opportunity. Over time, each ancient coin collected seems to require periodic review and updating as I learn more and see more.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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