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 Please share your Aretas or anything relevant
Nice example. 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
I agree! Beautifull examples everyone. Congratulations @ cmezner for getting that fantastic coin. John
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.
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.
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 : Q
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.