Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio, 47-46 BC. Denarius (Silver, 17 mm, 3.88 g, 8 h), with P. Licinius Crassus Junianus, Utica. Q•METEL•PIVS / SCIPIO•IMP / G•T•A Lion-headed Genius of Africa (Sekhmet or Tanit?) standing facing, holding ankh (or symbol of Tanit?) in her right hand. Rev. P•CRASSVS•I[VN] / [L]EG•PRO•PR Victory standing left, holding winged caduceus in her right hand and small round shield in her left. Babelon (Caecilia) 51. Crawford 460/4. CRI 43. RBW 1604. Sydenham 1050. Very rare. A very attractive example of this highly unusual and very interesting issue. Struck from slightly worn dies and with a few light marks, otherwise, good very fine.


This truly remarkable denarius of Scipio - probably his rarest issue - was struck in North Africa, in the city of Utica, around 47-46 BC. The lion-headed figure on the obverse is identified by the abbreviation GT-A around her head: Genius terrae Africae, the local deity or spirit of Africa. Grueber (BMCRR p. 572) identifies her with the goddess Sekhmet, an African goddess associated with the heat of the sun and its destructive powers in the deserts of Egypt, Libya, and Zeugitania. However, it is also possible that the goddess depicted is Tanit rather than Sekhmet, whose symbol she is holding in her right hand.

The use of Sekhmet (or Tanit) as the main obverse device is unusual but may reflect the disruptions in Roman society caused by the civil wars, as well as the regions where the fighting took place. The figure of Victory on the reverse is a more conventional type, alluding to the hoped-for Pompeian success against Caesar’s forces - an outcome that never materialized, as the Pompeians were defeated by Caesar at Thapsus in April 46 BC.