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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;DonnaML, post: 6567667, member: 110350&quot;]I think I&#039;m developing an elephant habit, Roman Republican and otherwise. I couldn&#039;t resist this one, which becomes my 6th ancient elephant coin (not counting a couple with elephant-skin headdresses). It may only depict the head, trunk, and one tusk of an elephant, but I still think it&#039;s fantastic! (Especially since it cost &lt; $200, which is relatively inexpensive these days.)</p><p><br /></p><p>Roman Republic, Anonymous [<i>probably Caecilius Metellus Diadematus or Caecilius Metellus Delmaticus</i>], AR Denarius 128 BCE. Obv. Head of Roma right, wearing winged helmet, <b><font size="6">*</font></b> [monogram for value: XVI asses] behind; otherwise anepigraphic&nbsp; / Rev. Pax or Juno driving biga galloping right, holding reins and long scepter in left hand and branch (olive or laurel) in right hand; elephant head under horses, facing right with trunk curving down, wearing bell dangling from neck; ROMA in exergue. Crawford 262/1, RSC I Caecilia 38 (ill.), BMCRR 1044, Sear RCV I 138, Sydenham 496. 18.5 mm., 3.89 g., 11 h.*</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1263588[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>*One of only four anonymous Roman Republican denarii after ca. 154 BCE (see also Crawford 222/1, 287/1, &amp; 350A/2), and the only one of the four that can be identified with near-certainty. See Crawford Vol. I at p. 287, explaining that the elephant head with dangling bell depicted on the reverse signals that the moneyer belonged to the Caecilii Metelli family, and recalls the victory of L. Caecilius Metellus, Cos. 251, over Hasdrubal at Panormus in 250 BCE, and the capture of Hasdrubal’s elephants. (See also the denarii depicting elephants or elephant heads issued by, e.g., M. Metellus Q.f. [127 BCE, Crawford 263/1a-1b], C. Caecilius Metullus Caprarius [125 BCE, Crawford 269/1]; Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius [81 BCE, Crawford 374/1]; and Q. Caecilius Metullus Pius Scipio [47-46 BCE, Crawford 459/1].) Therefore, it is generally accepted that this denarius was issued by either L. Caecilius Metellus Diadematus (Cos. 117), or L. Caecilius Metellus Delmaticus (Cos. 119), with the authorities seemingly preferring the former, given that his three brothers all held the moneyership. (Id.; see also Sear RCV I at p. 99.)</p><p><br /></p><p>The uncertainty in identifying the goddess in the biga arises from the inability to identify definitively the branch she holds: an olive branch would mean that the goddess is Pax, and a laurel branch would mean that she is Juno Regina. (See Crawford at p. 287.)&nbsp; Grueber (in BMCRR) and Seaby (in RSC) identify the goddess as Pax; Crawford and Sear note both possible identifications. If there&#039;s anyone here who can make a definitive identification, the numismatic world will owe you a debt of gratitude!</p><p><br /></p><p>***</p><p><br /></p><p>Of the other Caecilii Metelli elephant denarii I mention above, the only one I own is the Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius [81 BCE, Crawford 374/1] -- note the bell:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1263600[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Of the three other post-154 BCE anonymous Republican denarii I mention above, the only one I own is Crawford 287/1:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1263601[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Please show (1) your coins of the Caecilii Metelli, whether or not they depict elephants, (2) any elephant coins you haven&#039;t posted recently, regardless of their origin or era, and/or (3) any post-154 BCE anonymous Republican denarii you may have.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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