Roman Republic Denarius M. Caecilius Q.f. Q.n. Metellus Very Fine

Roman Republic denarius M. Caecilius Q.f. Q.n. Metellus struck at Rome 127 BC. Mark in the field below Roma’s chine, otherwise Very Fine and attractively toned.

The elephants head in the reverse design refers to the moneyer’s ancestor Caecilius Metellus victory over Hasdrubal at the battle Panormus during the second Punic war in which a number of elephants were captured and later slaughtered in the Circus Maximus in Rome. The Macedonian shield on which the elephants head is placed commemorates the victory of the moneyer’s father, Quintus Caecilius Metellus, over Andricus in 148 BC and his reorganisation of Macedonia as a Roman Province. This coin represents one of the earliest examples of a Moneyer using his coinage to celebrate the history and achievements of this family.

Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma right, ROMA behind, star below chin
Reverse: M•METELLVS•Q•F• around Macedonian shield on which there is an elephant’s head, all within laurel wreath
References: RRC 263/1a, RSC Caecil 29, RCV 139
Diameter: 16mm
Weight: 3.82 grams

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