Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio AR Denarius. Military mint travelling with Scipio in Africa, 47-46 BC. Eppius, legate. Head of Africa to right, wearing elephant skin headdress; grain ear before, plough below, [Q]•METELL downwards to right, SCIPIO•IMP upwards to left / Hercules standing facing, right hand on hip, leaning on club draped with lion skin and set on rock; [L]EG•F•C upwards to left, EPPIV[S] downwards to right. Crawford 461/1; CRI 44; BMCRR Africa 10; RBW 1605; RSC Caecilia 50 and Eppia 1. 3.90g, 18mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine; preserved with original hoard patina.

From the Vogelberg Collection (Switzerland), formed c. 1960-1985;
Ex F. Sternberg AG, Auction XIV, 24 May 1984, lot 223.

Scipio disclosed to Cicero the Catiline conspiracy, was consul with Pompey in 52 BC and governor of Syria in 49 BC. He commanded the centre line of Pompey's army at Pharsalus, after which he fled to Africa and formed an alliance with Juba, king of Numidia. This coin was struck during his African campaigns and the type refers to Africa and the fertility of that province. He was defeated by Caesar at Thapsus, and when cornered in flight by the fleet of Publius Sittius he committed suicide, famously departing from his soldiers with a nonchalant Imperator se bene habet – 'Your general is just fine.' Scipio, from a long and illustrious line of generals and statesmen, was the last man of any consequence to bear that famous name.