Have seen it often on CT and was drooling over one

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by cmezner, Apr 11, 2023.

  1. cmezner

    cmezner do ut des Supporter

    and now I have one.

    Part of the legends are off-flan and the reverse is off-center. Most of you have much better ones, but I do love the camel and Aretas III kneeling in the attitude of supplication, and the scorpion on the reverse :)

    This issue was put in circulation in 58 BC. Two years later, in 56 BC, the obverse design was imitated by Faustus Cornelius Sulla on his denarii showing Bocchus of Mauritania delivering Jugurtha handcuffed to the then young quaestor Sulla. The year after, in 55 BC, it was imitated by Aulus Plautius who copied the Aretas obverse with the camel, but with the legend Bacchius Iudaeus.
    The reverse refers to the conquest of the Volscian city Privernum (today’s Priverno) by the consul Gaius Plautius Decianus in 329 BC, when the Volsci revolted against Rome. PREIVE refers to Privernum.

    Roman Republic. M. Aemilius Scaurus and Pub. Plautius Hypsaeus, AR Denarius
    Rome, 58 BC
    17.40 mm, 3.85 g
    Crawford 422/1b; Aemilia 8; Plautia 8; Sydenham 913; RCV (Sear I) 379; BMC 3878;
    Hendin 740;

    Ob.: M SCAVR / AED CVR, above camel standing to r. Nabatean king Aretas kneeling to right before camel, holding reins and olive branch, (EX)-S•C across fields; (REX ARETAS) in ex. Border of dots
    Rev.: P HVPSAEV(S) / AED CVR, Jupiter driving quadriga to l., holding reins and hurling thunderbolt; scorpion in lower left field; (CAPTVM) in r. field, C HVPSAE COS / (PREIVER) below; border of dots

    Picture courtesy of Marc Breitsprecher

    upload_2023-4-11_16-57-13.png

    Please share your Aretas or anything relevant :)
     
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  3. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Nice example.

    [​IMG]
    M. Aemilius Scaurus & P. Plautius Hypsaeus (58 B.C.)
    AR Denarius
    O: M. SCAVR. / AED. CVR., above king Aretas kneeling beside a camel right, EX., on left, S.C., on right, REX. ARETAS., in exergue.
    R: P. HVPSAE. / AED. CVR., above Jupiter in quadriga left, CAPTV., on right, but C. HVPSAE. COS. PREIVER., in exergue, scorpion below horses.
    3.47g
    19mm
    Rome Mint
    RCV #379 Aemilia 8
     
  4. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Here's my junky example:
    M Aemilius 1.jpg
     
  5. GarrettB

    GarrettB Well-Known Member

    Lovely coins, all. One that I hadn't come across before!
     
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  6. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

    I agree! Beautifull examples everyone. Congratulations @ cmezner for getting that fantastic coin.
    John
     
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  7. GinoLR

    GinoLR Well-Known Member

  8. cmezner

    cmezner do ut des Supporter

    Love all the coins you shared; @Bing's one seems to have a head below Aretas, very interesting, or is it a countermark? Do you know whose head it is?

    It seems that a denarius of this type with all details and legends legible and without crowding is hard to find, and if you find one .... the price rises considerably.
     
  9. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    I see what you think to be a head, but I believe it is the bent knee of Aretas. I'll get it out tomorrow and take a closer look. I got this coin in a cleaning lot years ago. It was bent almost in two, but as you can see I was able to straighten it somewhat.
     
    Last edited: Apr 12, 2023
    cmezner likes this.
  10. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    When it comes to this particular type, one has to compromise, as most often they're struck from short flans. Mine is no exception, lacking most of the inscription at the obverse exergue :

    e0d737e9660c4caf95e6c6edd43f74e5.jpg

    Q
     
  11. cwart

    cwart Senior Member

    I have a Nabatean issue with Aretas IV, but in looking through my pics I don't see it in there. I'll try and get it done Friday to add to the thread.
     
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