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.
Roman Republic
Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio, Denarius 47-46 BC, military mint travelling with Scipio in Africa
Obverse: head of Africa to right, wearing elephant skin headdress; grain ear before, plough below
Q•METEL SCIPIO•IMP
Reverse: Hercules standing facing, right hand on hip, leaning on club draped with lion skin and set on rock
LEG•F•C EPPIVS
Weight 3.8 g
Scipio revealed to Cicero the Catiline conspiracy, he was the consul of Pompey in 52 BC and the governor of Syria in 49 BC. He commanded the center line of Pompey army at Pharsalus, after which he escaped to Africa and formed an alliance with Juba, king of Numidia. This coin was minted during his African campaigns, and the type harks back to Africa and the fertility of the province. He was defeated by Caesar at Tapsus, and cornered in his escape by the fleet of Publius Sittius, he committed suicide, sneaking off his soldiers with the nonchalant "Imperator se bene habet" - "Your general is well." Scipio, descended from a long and illustrious line of generals and statesmen, was the last important man to bear this famous name.
