Lot 4748

Description

Mauretania, Kingdom of Juba II, (25 B.C. - A.D. 24), silver denarius (2.99 g), Caesarea mint, obv. diademed head to right of Juba II, around REX IVBA, rev, draped bust of Africa right, wearing lion skin headdress, two spears behind, (S.5971, MAA 70, Mazard 126, Muller, Afrique 18, SNG Cop.554). Toned, slightly off centred on the obverse, otherwise good very fine and very rare.

Ex Dr. Adrian Carr Collection and purchased from Malter Galleries, Encino, in 2002.
Juba II was the son of Juba I and survived the events of 46 B.C., when his father was killed. At the time Juba II was an infant and was taken by Caesar to Rome to be brought up in his household. Juba II befriended Octavian who upon coming to power bestowed upon Juba II the northern African kingdom of Mauretania, the land of the Moors that extended from the Numidian border westward to the Atlantic ocean. His first wife was Cleopatra Selene who was the daughter of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII of Egypt. Their son, Ptolemy, succeeded to the kingdom in A.D. 23. Juba's second wife was Glaphyra the daughter of Archelaus, king of Cappadocia.