In January of 49 BC, Gaius Julius Caesar crossed the River Rubicon with his legions, thereby declaring war to Rome. Over the following four years he waged a remorseless civil war against his main enemy Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus. He quickly conquered Rome, and then followed Pompey to Spain, where he defeated his enemy's legions.
This denarius shows an elephant (Caesar and his legions) trampling down a dragon (the enemy). The reverse depicts priestly symbols. They pointed out that Caesar held the office of Pontifex maximus, the highest Roman priest, and as such had the ear of the gods. Depicted are a dipper (a simpuvium), an aspergillum, a sacrificial axe (securis), and a priestly cap (apex).