Mysien, Pergamon Cistophor 49/48 v.Chr. Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio, AU

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New die showing a singular design of the legionary standard

Cista mystica from which snake coils; around, ivy wreath with fruits
Q METELLVS PIVS / SCIPIO IMPER Two snakes coiled around legionary eagle; to left, monogram of ΠΕΡΓ

William Mecalf does not know this die in his corpus "The Later Republican Cistophori". This depiction of the eagle standard is completely unique. The staff is decorated all around in the upper half, there is no evidence on decorations on coins or other objects.

Quote from Kai Töpfer, SIGNA MILITARIA, DIE RÖMISCHEN FELDZEICHEN IN DER REPUBLIC UND IM PRINZIPAT, Mainz 2011: "Consequently, the legionary eagles from the late Republic to the end of the Imperial period do not seem to have changed either in time or by object. They always consisted of an undecorated shaft ending in a capital on which sits an eagle with a thunderbolt and upstretched wings. According to ancient descriptions the eagle this was made of silver or gold or covered with these precious metals.

In practice, this decoration makes no sense, the aquilifer could no longer grasp the staff. More opinions welcome!

Metellus Pius Scipio was a defender of Verres in 70 BC, tribunus plebis in 60 BC and consul with Pompey in 52 BC, he then went as proconsul to Syria and Asia Minor, where this coin was minted. In 49 BC he was given equal command of the Senate army with Pompey. He enriched himself excessively and would probably have plundered the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, but was prevented from doing so by Pompey.After the battle of Pharsalus (48) he went to Africa, where he was defeated at Thapsus on April 6, 46 BC

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