Pre-Long Beach Auction #91

Antoninus Pius. AE As (14.75 g), AD 138-161 Superb EF. Rome, AD 148/9. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XII, laureate head of Antoninus Pius right. Reverse: MVNIFICENTIA AVG, COS IIII/S C in two lines in exergue, armored elephant advancing right. RIC 862a. Well struck on a nice full broad flan, Lovely hard dark green patina. Superb Extremely Fine.
The Romans' first experience with elephants was during the Pyrrhic Wars (280-275 BC) against the combined forces of Tarentum and those of Pyrrhus of Epirus. Other than the initial shock and confusion elephants caused to the opposing forces experiencing them for the first time during battle, their military value was largely negligent. In fact, according to numerous ancient sources, they often proved dangerous to the side having them; elephants could be turned by archers and peltasts, as once feeling the sting of dozens of arrows and sling bullets the animals would turn and run amok, rampaging through their own lines causing more harm to their own troops than they ever did to the enemy. This coin whose reverse depicts an armored elephant majestically marching in procession commemorates the benevolence of the emperor, whose role as provider of public spectacles (munera) is captured by the reverse legend, MVNIFICENTIA AVG. While the year this coin was struck, AD 148-149, could have been celebrated as a Roman centenary in which the primary events would have been the centennial games, or ludes saeculares, it seems that Pius did not host them. Instead, he celebrated his decennalia, his tenth year anniversary on the throne. Presumably, the armored elephant depicted here formed part of the military parade through the streets of Rome that would have occurred during Pius' decannalian celebrations. Estimated Value $700 - 800