Julius Caesar Elephant Denarius

Specimen · caesar-elephant-denarius-001

The Coin

Obverse — elephant advancing right, trampling a horned serpent (or carnyx); CAESAR in exergue, worn

Reverse — pontifical emblems (ladle, aspergillum, axe, apex), heavily worn

Attribution: Italy. Rome. Julius Caesar. c. 49–48 BC. AR. denarius.

Obverse: Elephant advancing right, trampling on a horned serpent (or dragon-headed Gallic war-trumpet, a carnyx); CAESAR in exergue

Reverse: Priestly emblems: culullus (libation cup, or simpulum), aspergillum, sacena (pontifical sacrificial axe), and apex (spiked priestly cap — whose office it marks is debated; see Deeper dive)

Weight: Not yet weighed; no tag or record Reference: Crawford 443/1

John's Ancient Coin Collection · Specimen · caesar-elephant-denarius-001

Image credits for this coin — photographs, maps and graphics used on this page