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<p>[QUOTE="Parthicus, post: 7969568, member: 81887"][ATTACH=full]1382284[/ATTACH] </p><p>Numidia. AR denarius (3.53 g). Juba I (60-46 BC). Obverse: Bearded bust of Juba right, with diadem and scepter, hair in fancy curls, Latin inscription before face REX IVBA (King Juba). Reverse: Octastyle (eight-columned) temple, Neo-Punic legend around Yubai hammamleket (King Juba). Reverse strongly off-center. References: SNG Copenhagen 523, Sear Greek Coins 6607. This coin: Ancient & Medieval Coins Canada Auction 3, lot 93 (July 24, 2021).</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. 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. During the Second Punic War, Masinissa unified the Numidian tribes and allied himself with Rome, and was named the first King of Numidia. Numidia continued to be an important ally of Rome in North Africa. In 81 BC Rome sent Pompey to help restore King Hiempsal to the Numidian throne; Hiempsal's son and future successor Juba may have formed an early admiration for Pompey at this time. Regardless, Juba sided with Pompey against Julius Caesar when the Roman Civil War broke out at the start of 49 BC. In August 49 BC, Juba's troops routed a Caesarean force under Gaius Scribonius Curio, killing the former Tribune of the Plebs. Juba led a large force to join Metellus Scipio at the Battle of Thrapsus in 46 BC. However, realizing that Scipio was doomed, Juba opted to stay out of the battle and led his troops away from the fight. Finding their retreat cut off, Juba and a Roman Pompeian general named Marcus Petreius made a suicide pact and decided to fight each other to the death, so that at least one could die an honorable death. Petreius won the duel. In the aftermath, the eastern part of Numidia became the Roman province of Africa Nova, while the western region was annexed to the Kingdom of Numidia. A son of Juba I, named Juba II, would later serve as King of Mauretania under Augustus.</p><p><br /></p><p>I like the distinctive portrait on this coin, especially the hairstyle with dozens of detailed ringlets. Despite a decent amount of wear the portrait is still clear on this specimen, and all the letters of REX IVBA are present (even if the A is just barely). The reverse, of course, is heavily off-center, but for this type the obverse is the main attraction, so I don't mind the off-center strike. I ended up buying this coin thanks to winning a contest (about Roman coinage) run by [USER=99554]@Ocatarinetabellatchitchix[/USER] in December 2020. My prize, generously donated by [USER=84744]@Severus Alexander[/USER] , was a $100 CAD credit for the next Ancient & Medieval Coins Canada auction. Without that credit, I might not have been willing to purchase this coin, which is outside my usual collecting area, but with the subsidy it seemed a lot more reasonable. Please share your coins of Juba I, or other Numidian coins, or whatever else is related.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Parthicus, post: 7969568, member: 81887"][ATTACH=full]1382284[/ATTACH] Numidia. AR denarius (3.53 g). Juba I (60-46 BC). Obverse: Bearded bust of Juba right, with diadem and scepter, hair in fancy curls, Latin inscription before face REX IVBA (King Juba). Reverse: Octastyle (eight-columned) temple, Neo-Punic legend around Yubai hammamleket (King Juba). Reverse strongly off-center. References: SNG Copenhagen 523, Sear Greek Coins 6607. This coin: Ancient & Medieval Coins Canada Auction 3, lot 93 (July 24, 2021). 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. 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. During the Second Punic War, Masinissa unified the Numidian tribes and allied himself with Rome, and was named the first King of Numidia. Numidia continued to be an important ally of Rome in North Africa. In 81 BC Rome sent Pompey to help restore King Hiempsal to the Numidian throne; Hiempsal's son and future successor Juba may have formed an early admiration for Pompey at this time. Regardless, Juba sided with Pompey against Julius Caesar when the Roman Civil War broke out at the start of 49 BC. In August 49 BC, Juba's troops routed a Caesarean force under Gaius Scribonius Curio, killing the former Tribune of the Plebs. Juba led a large force to join Metellus Scipio at the Battle of Thrapsus in 46 BC. However, realizing that Scipio was doomed, Juba opted to stay out of the battle and led his troops away from the fight. Finding their retreat cut off, Juba and a Roman Pompeian general named Marcus Petreius made a suicide pact and decided to fight each other to the death, so that at least one could die an honorable death. Petreius won the duel. In the aftermath, the eastern part of Numidia became the Roman province of Africa Nova, while the western region was annexed to the Kingdom of Numidia. A son of Juba I, named Juba II, would later serve as King of Mauretania under Augustus. I like the distinctive portrait on this coin, especially the hairstyle with dozens of detailed ringlets. Despite a decent amount of wear the portrait is still clear on this specimen, and all the letters of REX IVBA are present (even if the A is just barely). The reverse, of course, is heavily off-center, but for this type the obverse is the main attraction, so I don't mind the off-center strike. I ended up buying this coin thanks to winning a contest (about Roman coinage) run by [USER=99554]@Ocatarinetabellatchitchix[/USER] in December 2020. My prize, generously donated by [USER=84744]@Severus Alexander[/USER] , was a $100 CAD credit for the next Ancient & Medieval Coins Canada auction. Without that credit, I might not have been willing to purchase this coin, which is outside my usual collecting area, but with the subsidy it seemed a lot more reasonable. Please share your coins of Juba I, or other Numidian coins, or whatever else is related.[/QUOTE]
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