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

It is interesting to know that Julius Caesar actually had a military mint travel along with him and his men. Sources tell us that this silver denarius was produced by that mint between April and August of 49 BC. That was around the time that Caesar and his forces crossed the Rubicon, which marked the onset of an extended period of his Civil War throughout ancient Rome. This warfare foreshadowed the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire.

The image of the elephant on the coins of Julius Caesar was very significant. Caesar had tamed elephants sent from Italy in order to calm his men and horses in preparation for warfare in North Africa. Above is a Roman bronze statue of a war elephant. Photo: Wikipedia.

The obverse features an elephant facing right, crushing under its enormous 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. Bright and quite lustrous with a hint of golden toning. Crawford 443/1. Sydenham 1006. Julia 9.