Ancient Roman Imperatorial - 49-48 BCE Julius Caesar, Elephant obverse AR Denarius NGC Choice XF★

This silver issue was produced by the military mint that traveled with Caesar, and was minted between April and August of 49 BCE. This was around the time that Julius Caesar and his forces crossed the Rubincon, which saw the beginning of an extended time of Caesar's Civil War throughout ancient Rome. These hostilities brought about the end of the Roman Republic, setting the stage for the Roman Empire. The obverse features an elephant facing right, crushing under its massive foot a horned serpent with 'CAESAR' in exergue.

The reverse carries the symbols of the Pontifex Maximus, the high priest of Rome. Caesar had been elected to that esteemed office in 63 BCE. The pontifical implements found on the reverse are ladle for use in sacrifices (simpulum), holy-water sprinkler (aspergillum), axe adorned with animal imagery (securis) and pontif's hat (apex). Such religious symbols served as a reminder of Caesar's declared relationship to the Roman gods. The example offered has an original olive green-golden patina on both sides.

The Tusculum portrait, possibly the only surviving sculpture of Caesar made during his lifetime. Archaeological Museum, Turin, Italy. Photo: wikipedia.

It was on 10 January 49 BCE that Caesar and his armies were assembled on the banks of the Rubicon river, poised to attack Italy. Large amounts of denarii were needed to pay military expenses. Therefore the military mint traveled along with Caesar and his armies. This coin was not ordered by a moneyer, as was usually the case, but by Caesar himself. The obverse is a piece of numismatic propaganda: the triumph of good (the elephant) over evil (the serpent). It was crafted to encourage Caesar's warriors during the long, grueling military campaign.  It is the view of some scholars that employing the image of the elephant suggests that Caesar considered himself an equal of famous generals such as Alexander the Great and Hannibal. Another interpretation is that this issue was propaganda to announce his victories and boastfully predict the outcome of the Roman Civil War (49-45 BCE). This coin is usually dated 49 BCE, the year Caesar took large quantities of gold and silver from the treasury in the Temple of Saturn in Rome. This metal was in all probability used to fund his new denarius.