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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Parthicus, post: 2589087, member: 81887&quot;]Here&#039;s my second write-up for coins received this week:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]563479[/ATTACH] </p><p>North Africa, Numidia.&nbsp; Micipsa (148-118 BC).&nbsp; AE 25.&nbsp; Obverse: Laureate bust left with pointed beard.&nbsp; Reverse: Galloping horse, pellet below.&nbsp; Anepigraphic.&nbsp; References: SNG Copenhagen 508, Sear GCV 6597.</p><p><br /></p><p>Numidia was the region in North Africa immediately to the west of Carthage and extended to the border of Mauretania; its territory is now western Tunisia and northern Algeria.&nbsp; The inhabitants were originally nomads, related to the Berbers, who picked up agriculture and began living in settled towns by copying their Carthaginian neighbors, while remaining politically independent.&nbsp; During the Second Punic War, Masinissa unified the Numidian tribes and allied himself with Rome, and was named the first King of Numidia.&nbsp; Upon Masinissa&#039;s death in 148 BC, the throne went to his three sons, two of whom soon died, leaving Micipsa the sole ruler.&nbsp; He continued his father&#039;s pro-Roman policy, although he was accused of delaying sending practical military assistance against Carthage until the outcome was beyond doubt.&nbsp; In 146 BC, when Carthage fell at the end of the Third Punic War, Micipsa allowed thousands of Carthaginian refugees to settle in his territory.&nbsp; Little else is known of his reign, although he is recorded in Roman sources as having twice sent soldiers and elephants to assist Roman forces in the Iberian peninsula.&nbsp; Numidia remained an independent ally of Rome until 46 BC, when it was annexed as the province of Africa Nova.</p><p><br /></p><p>Note that this coin is anepigraphic (lacking inscriptions); it is assigned to Micipsa based on artistic similarity to other coins that do bear his name.&nbsp; This is another recent purchase from Marc Breitsprecher (Ancient Imports).&nbsp; Despite the low technical grade, I find this piece quite attractive; the portrait features are clear, the horse looks like a real, vibrant animal, and the coin has smooth, evenly brown surfaces.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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