Very interesting and very well preserved denarius minted in North Africa in 47-46 BC after Scipio fled to the continent in vain attempt to regain support. On the obverse we can see the head of Jupiter, with the legend Q METEL PIVS and on the reverse, large African elephant and the words SCIPIO and IMP. This specimen was minted, like many others in the late Republican period, to pay the surviving soldiers and lure new ones. Ultimately, however, Scipio was unable to gain sufficient public support in either Africa or Rome and his army was crushed tactically by Caesar much superior legions at the Battle of Thapsus in 46 BC.
Roman Republic
Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio, Denarius 47-46 BC, military mint travelling with Scipio in Africa
Obverse: laureate head of Jupiter right, in archaic style with beard and hair in ringlets
Q•METEL PIVS
Reverse: elephant standing right, SCIPIO above, IMP below
Weight 3.5 g
Metellus Scipio was born in 98 BC. He was one of the most prominent politicians in Rome during the Civil War of 49-45 BC, previously serving as curule edile in 57 BC, praetor in 55 BC and consul in 52 BC (with Pompey the Great). Seemingly staunch defender of republican values, he turned out to be one of Caesar most noisy opponents and in early 49 BCE managed to persuade the senate to issue him an ultimatum that made war inevitable. When the war broke out, he quickly allied with Pompey Optimats (senatorial faction) and commanded the center of their army at the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC, in which they were decisively defeated.
