180 IVORY AND THE ELEPHANT 



On the reverse of many imperial Roman coins appears 

 a biga or quadriga drawn by two or four elephants, or else 

 a kind of car; in each case the figure of the emperor is seen, 

 standing or seated, in the vehicle. This sometimes refers 

 to a triumph, and the emperor himself is denoted, but often 



Medal showing chariot drawn by four elephants and bearing statues 

 of the late Emperor Pertinax as well as a symbolic image of Eternity. 



— From Kuypert's "De elephantis in nummis obviis," Hagae Comitum. 

 1719. 



it is only his statue that is figured. On a silver coin of 

 Caligula we see the emperor (or his statue) on a car drawn 

 by four elephants, on each of which sits the respective 

 mahout ; the emperor's figure is surrounded by seven stars. It 

 is believed that this refers to a golden statue of Caligula that 

 was drawn in triumph to the Capital, while troops of noble 



