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A silver denarius of Julius Caesar showing an elephant trampling a serpent and emblems of the Pontificate Coin Type: Silver denarius of Julius Caesar, Dictator 49 BCE - 44 BCE.
Mint and Date: Military mint in Italy, 49 BCE.
Size and Weight: 17mm x 19mm, 3.84g
Obverse: CAESAR
An elephant walking right and trampling on a serpent, head raised and looking back at the elephant.
Reverse: Simpulum, sprinkler, axe and apex; emblems of the Pontificate.
Provenance: anglo-antiquities (eBay), October 2002.
Ref: RCV (2000) 1399
BW Ref: 001 044 049
Click on the picture for a larger scale view of the coin

Note 1: This was the first coin issued in Caesar's name. It was minted after his invasion of Italy and crossing of the Rubicon on 10 January 49 BCE until his defeat of Pompey at Pharsalus. The symbolism on the obverse appears to be the triumph of good over evil, with the snake possibly representing Pompey. The reverse refers to Caesar's office of Pontifex Maximus.

Note 2: The creature being trampled might not be a snake. Sear calls it a dragon, and another theory is that it is a carnyx (Celtic war trumpet).

The content of this page was last updated on 8 November 2009