Crawford 263/1a, Roman Republic, M. Caecilius Metellus, Denarius

Roman Republic (Rome mint 127 BC.), M. Caecilius Metellus.
AR Denarius (3.86 g, 16-17 mm).
Obv.: Helmeted head of Roma right; behind, ROMA upwards; mark of value monogram XVI ( = 16 as ) under chin.
Rev.: Macedonian shield decorated with elephant’s head with bell; around, M METELLVS Q F within laurel wreath.
Crawford 263/1a ; Sydenham 480 ; Babelon (Caecilia) 28 ; BMCRR Rome 1145 .

The rev. commemorates a victory of the moneyer´s ancestor: Roman general Quintus Caecilius Metellus defeated Andriskos of Macedon in 148 BC. Q. Caecilius Metellus (later called Macedonicus), was a veteran of Aemilius Paullus’ Macedonian campaign twenty years earlier. Against a large Roman army under a seasoned general, and with the support of the Pergamene fleet provided by Rome’s ally Attalos I, the Macedonian pretender Andriskos stood no chance of success.