KINGS of MAURETANIA. Juba II, with Kleopatra Selene. 25 BC-AD 24. AR Denarius (15.5mm, 3.62 g, 6h). Caesarea mint. Dated RY 6 (20/19 BC). VF.

Electronic Auction 525 – Session 1
Lot: 574. Estimated: $ 500

Greek, Silver

Sold For $ 3 750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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KINGS of MAURETANIA. Juba II, with Kleopatra Selene. 25 BC-AD 24. AR Denarius (15.5mm, 3.62 g, 6h). Caesarea mint. Dated RY 6 (20/19 BC). Diademed head of Juba left; date in legend to left / Head of Kleopatra Selene left. Spoerri-Butcher Group 1.b, 7 (A3/R4 – this coin, illustrated); Mazard 357; MAA 114; SNG Copenhagen 546. Toned, compact flan. VF. Very rare.

From the S & S Collection. Ex Malter II (23 February 1978), lot 310; Journal of Numismatic Fine Arts 3/2–4 (Autumn 1974), no. H348; Sotheby’s Zurich (27 May 1974), lot 329; Myers 5 (15 March 1973), lot 297; Malloy FPL 19 (1970), no. 477.

Juba II was born about 50 BC, the son of King Juba of Numidia who lost his kingdom and his life following Caesar's victory over the Pompeians at Thapsus in 46 BC. The child was brought to Rome to adorn the dictator's triumph and then remained in the capital, where he received his education and was later granted Roman citizenship. During this time, he became a close friend of Octavian, thirteen years his senior. In 25 BC, Octavian, now Rome's first emperor under the name of Augustus, granted his friend Juba the North African Kingdom of Mauretania, which had been annexed by the Romans following the death of Bocchus III in 33. About five years later, Juba II married the 20-year-old Kleopatra Selene, daughter of Mark Antony and Queen Kleopatra VII of Egypt, who had been brought up by the emperor's sister, Octavia, following her parents' suicide in Alexandria in 30 BC. Their rule over Mauretania was benevolent, and quite prosperous, though there was constant border security problems. Juba survived to an advanced age and was eventually succeeded by Ptolemy, his son by Kleopatra Selene, in AD 24.

Closing Date and Time: 19 October 2022 at 13:11:00 ET.

All winning bids are subject to an 20% buyer’s fee.