3151) "War Elephant - Alpha Strike - 2023", Gibraltar, A British Overseas Territory (BOT): Scottsdale Mint has released the second Coin in the Series marked "War Elephant": Date of Coin availability: 10.01.2024:
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The Header/Banner showcases a War Elephant at right. At left is the Serialised Certi-Lock. The Header is titled - "WAR ELEPHANT - ALPHA STRIKE".
What is a War Elephant?
A War Elephant is an elephant that was trained and guided by humans for combat. The War Elephant's main use was to charge the enemy, break their ranks, and instill terror and fear.
"Elephantry" is a term for specific military units using elephant-mounted troops.
War elephants played a critical role in several key battles in antiquity, especially in ancient India.
They became a permanent fixture in armies of historical kingdoms in Southeast Asia.
During classical antiquity they were also used in ancient Persia and in the Mediterranean world within armies of Macedon, Hellenistic Greek States, the Roman Republic (and later Empire), and Ancient Carthage in North Africa.
In some regions they maintained a firm presence on the battlefield throughout the Medieval Era. However, their use declined with the spread of firearms and other gunpowder weaponry in early modern warfare.
After this, war elephants became restricted to non-combat engineering and labour roles, as well as being used for minor ceremonial uses.
They continued to be used in combat, however, in some parts of the world, such as in Burma, Thailand, and Vietnam, well into the 19th century.
Training of War Elephants:
An elephant trainer, rider, or keeper is called a "Mahout". Mahouts were responsible for capturing and handling elephants.
To accomplish this, they utilised metal chains and a specialised hook called an "ankush", (or 'elephant goad').
According to Chanakya as recorded in the "Arthashastra", first the mahout would have to get the elephant used to being led.
The elephant would have learned how to raise its legs to help a rider climb on. Then the elephants were taught to run and maneuver around obstacles, and move in formation.
These elephants would be fit to learn how to systematically trample and charge enemies.
The first elephant species to be tamed was the Asian Elephant, for use in agriculture.
Elephant taming – not full domestication, as they are still captured in the wild, rather than being bred in captivity – began in two different places:
- The oldest evidence comes from the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC), around roughly 6500 BC.
The wild elephant populations of Mesopotamia declined quickly because of deforestation and human population growth: by 850 BC the Mesopotamian elephants were extinct.
- Capturing elephants from the wild remained a difficult task, but a necessary one given the difficulties of breeding in captivity and the long time required for an elephant to reach sufficient maturity to engage in battle.
Elephants in their prime:
- Sixty-year-old war elephants were always prized as being at the most suitable age for battle service and gifts of elephants of this age were seen as particularly generous.
- Presently an elephant is considered in its prime and at the height of its power between the ages of 25 and 40, yet elephants as old as 80 are used in tiger hunts because they are more disciplined and experienced.
It is commonly thought that the reason all war elephants were male was because of males' greater aggression, but it was instead because a female elephant in battle will run from a male, therefore only males could be used in war, whereas female elephants were more commonly used for logistics.
In Antiquity:
It is widely accepted that War Elephants were first used in ancient India.
The early Vedic period did not extensively specify the use of elephants in war.
However, in the Ramayana, Indra is depicted as riding either "Airavata", a mythological elephant, or "Uchchaihshravas", as his mount.
Elephants were widely utilised in warfare by the later Vedic period by the 6th Century BC.
The increased conscription of elephants in the military history of India coincides with the expansion of the Vedic Kingdoms into the Indo-Gangetic Plain suggesting its introduction during the intervening period.
The practice of riding on elephants in peace and war, royalty or commoner, was first recorded in the 6th or 5th Century BC.
This practice is believed to be much older than proper recorded history.
War Elephants in ancient Indian epics - Ramayan and Mahābhārat:
The ancient Indian epics Ramayan and Mahābhārat, dating from 5th–4th century BC, elaborately depict elephant warfare.
They are recognised as an essential component of royal and military processions.
In ancient India, initially, the army was fourfold (chaturanga), consisting of infantry, cavalry, elephants and chariots. Kings and princes principally rode on chariots, which was considered the most royal, while seldom riding the back of elephants.
Although viewed as secondary to chariots by royalty, elephants were the preferred vehicle of warriors, especially the elite ones. While the chariots eventually fell into disuse, the other three arms continued to be valued.
Many characters in the epic Mahābhārata were trained in the art. According to the rules of engagement set for the Kurukshetra War two men were to duel utilising the same weapon and mount including elephants.
In the Mahābhārata the "Akshauhini" battle formation consisted of a ratio of 1 chariot, 1 elephant, 3 cavalry, and 5 infantry soldiers.
Many characters in the Mahābhārata were described as skilled in the art of elephant warfare e.g. Duryodhana rode an elephant into battle to bolster the demoralised Kaurav army.
Scriptures like the "Nikāya and Vinaya Pitaka" assign elephants in their proper place in the organisation of an army.
The "Samyutta Nikaya" mentions Gautama Buddha being visited by a "hatthāroho gāmai". (He is the head of a village community bound together by their profession as mercenary soldiers forming an elephant corp.
Ancient Indian kings certainly valued the elephant in war, some stating that an army without elephants is as despicable as a forest without a lion, a kingdom without a king, or as valour unaided by weapons.
The use of elephants further increased with the rise of the "Mahajanapadas".
King Bimbisara (543 BC), who began the expansion of the Magadha kingdom, relied heavily on his war elephants.
The "Mahajanapadas" would be conquered by the Nanda Empire under the reign of Mahapadma Nanda.
Pliny the Elder and Plutarch also estimated the Nanda Army strength in the East as 200,000 infantry, 80,000 cavalry, 8,000 chariots, and 6,000 war elephants.
Alexander would come in contact with the Nanda Empire on the banks of the Beas River and was forced to return due to his army's unwillingness to advance.
Even if the numbers and prowess of these elephants were exaggerated by historic accounts, elephants were established firmly as war machines in this period.
Chandragupta Maurya (321–297 BC), formed the Maurya Empire, the largest empire to exist in South Asia. At the height of his power, Chandragupta is said to have wielded a military of 600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, 8,000 chariots and 9,000 war elephants besides followers and attendants.
In the Mauryan Empire, the 30-member war office was made up of six boards. The sixth board looked after the elephants and were headed by "Gajadhyaksha". The Gajadhyaksha was the superintendent of elephants.
The use of elephants in the Maurya Empire as recorded by Chanakya in the "Arthashastra". entailed - catching, training, and controlling war elephants which was one of the most important skills taught by the military academies.
Chanakya advised Chandragupta to set up forested sanctuaries for the wellness of the elephants. He explicitly conveyed the importance of these sanctuaries.
The Maurya Empire would reach its zenith under the reign of Ashok, who used elephants extensively during his conquest.
During the Kalinga War, Kalinga had a standing army of 60,000 infantry, 1000 cavalry and 700 war elephants. Kalinga was notable for the quality of their war elephants which were prized by its neighbours for being stronger.
Later the King Kharavela was to restore an independent Kalinga into a powerful kingdom using war elephants as stated in the Hathigumpha inscription or "Elephant Cave" Inscriptions.
The Chola Empire of Tamil Nadu also had a very strong elephant force. The Chola emperor Rajendra Chola had an armoured elephant force, which played a major role in his campaigns.
Following Indian accounts foreign rulers also adopted the use of elephants:
Sri Lanka made extensive use of elephants and also exported elephants with Pliny the Elder stating that the Sri Lankan elephants, were larger, fiercer and better for war than local elephants.
This superiority, as well as the proximity of the supply to seaports, made Sri Lanka's elephants a lucrative trading commodity.
Sri Lankan history records indicate elephants were used as mounts for kings leading their men in the battlefield, with individual mounts being recorded in history. The elephant "Kandula" was King Dutugamunu's mount and "Maha Pambata", ('Big Rock'), the mount of King Ellalan during their historic encounter on the battlefield in 200 BC.
Originating from the mist-shrouded realms of South Asia, these leviathans became the trumpeting embodiment of power on the battlefield.
The Scottsdale Mint Silver and Gold Coins:
- In the ancient tapestry of warfare, the colossal figure of the war elephant stands as a majestic giant, its colossal form etching tales of conquest and splendor across the annals of time. Originating from the mist-shrouded realms of South Asia, these leviathans became the trumpeting embodiment of power on the battlefield.
- Imagine the scene – the earth quaking beneath their mighty footsteps as they marched, adorned with grandeur, through jungles and vast plains. The air was filled with the scent of exotic spices and the earthy aroma of the beasts themselves, their wrinkled skin painted in hues of ochre and gold.
- Historically, these awe-inspiring creatures were more than mere instruments of war; they were revered symbols of might and dominion.
- Carrying towering howdahs upon their colossal backs, adorned with banners that fluttered in the breeze, war elephants became the living, breathing thrones of generals and kings.
- Their eyes, gleaming with a mix of intelligence and gentleness, hinted at the centuries of intricate bonds forged between humans and these magnificent creatures.
- Yet, their trumpeting cries also echoed the thunderous chaos of battle, marking these giants as both protectors and harbingers of destruction.
- As time wove its complex tapestry, the war elephant traversed continents, leaving indelible footprints in the sands of history, a colossal saga of power, companionship, and the untamed wild.
- Adorned in formidable battle armour, this awe-inspiring warrior served as a captivating memoir for enthusiasts of military history, beautifully capturing the essence of ancient battlegrounds and the indomitable spirit of these colossal creatures.
Now in it's 2nd year, Scottsdale Mint has continued the "War Elephant" Coin Programme with a 1 Troy oz Silver and Gold coin release.
The Reverse of the Gold (10 Pounds) and Silver (1 Pound) Coin shows a War Elephant.
This Coin is titled "Alpha Strike' and comes with a Mint Designation Certi-Lock, reserved for the initial coins struck in a new program.
The Obverse of the Gold (10 Pounds) and Silver (1 Pound) Coin features the Emblem of Gibraltar. The peripheral inscriptions are - "GIBRALTAR. 9999 Fine Gold or .999 Fine Silver. 1 Troy Ounce."
The specifications of the Silver Coin are:
Country of issue: Gibraltar , A British Overseas Territory (BOT); Coin issue Date/Year: 2023 (with date of Coin availability - 10.01.2024); Coin Series Theme": "War Elephant"; Coin Theme: "Alpha Strike"; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Diameter/Size: 39.00 mm; Weight: 1 Troy Oz or 31.1 grams; Coin Quality: Proof-like; Mint: Scottsdale Mint: Packaging: Serialised Certi-Lock; Mintage: 15,000 pieces; Legal Tender: in Gibraltar.
The specifications of the Gold Coin are:
Country of issue: Gibraltar , A British Overseas Territory (BOT); Coin issue Date/Year: 2023 (with date of Coin availability - 10.01.2024); Coin Series Theme": "War Elephant"; Coin Theme: "Alpha Strike"; Metal Composition: .9999 Fineness Gold (Ag); Diameter/Size: 39.00 mm; Weight: 1 Troy Oz or 31.1 grams; Coin Quality: Proof; Mint: Scottsdale Mint: Packaging: Display Box, Case & COA, Coin in Capsule; Mintage: 100 pieces; Legal Tender: in Gibraltar.
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