Even where, however, the ball-like symbol we are considering may have represented something other than the Golden Apple, the probability is that it seldom if ever represented the earth. For as, though the ancients may have conceived and spoken of the world we live upon as being "round" in the same sense as a circular coin is round, they did not think of it as being a globe, it is obvious that the ball-like symbol in question is much less likely to have signified the--in their belief--non-globular earth, than it is to have been a representation of something which they did consider to be globular. Such is the nature of the evidence which tends to show that we Christians may be mistaken in supposing that our famous symbol the Coronation Orb represents the round world upon which we dwell, surmounted by the instrument of execution upon which Jesus died. Although, however, most points have now been touched upon, including the important fact that the so-called Coronation Orb of Christian Monarchs used to be called, even by Christians, the Golden Apple, the idea that it may have been the _crux ansata_, or Egyptian symbol of Life (an upright oval, perhaps signifying the female principle, set upon the top of the _tau_, or {image "t.gif"} cross, and thus turning into a complete cross what is really an incomplete one, and may be supposed to have signified the male principle), _reversed_ (_e.g., Archaeological Journal_ xlii. 164), should at least be mentioned. It ought, however to be pointed out that the Orb is even more like the ancient symbol of the planet sacred to Venus, the Goddess of Love, reversed. Even this point does not exhaust the subject in hand; for the fact that in days of old we used to represent the Christ as the Pagans represented the Sun-God, _viz._, as standing by the Tree of Life and holding a round object meant for the phallic apple, has not yet been dealt with in any way. It is however desirable that before discussing the matter further we should ascertain the nature of the evidence, regarding this and kindred subjects, derivable from the coins of the Roman Empire. CHAPTER X. ROMAN COINS BEFORE CONSTANTINE. Bearing in mind the matters mentioned in the two last chapters, let us now pass in review the coins struck by the Romans, and make a note of such features as may, directly or indirectly, bear upon the history of the cross. The first cross we meet with on the coins in question, is upon one of Julius Caesar; who was appointed _Flamen Dialis_ B.C. 87, _Pontiff_ B.C. 74, Military Tribune B.C. 73, Quaestor B.C. 68, _Pontifex Maximus_ B.C. 63, and Dictator B.C. 49. The cross in question consists of the name _C. Cossutius Maridianus_ arranged as a cross of four equal arms. And it should be noted that it is admitted, even by such well-known authorities as Mr. C. W. King, M.A., that the name was so arranged out of compliment to the official in question _because his name had reference to the meridian sun_.[46]