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Juba II (~50 BC – 23 AD) hailed from a royal family in northern Africa. His father, King Juba I of Numidia, supported the Roman general Pompey in the Roman civil war against Julius Caesar. Unfortunately for the elder Juba, Pompey was defeated. In the aftermath, the younger Juba was escorted back to Rome as part of Caesar’s triumphal procession. Recognizing an opportunity, Caesar took responsibility for the young African prince. Under the aegis of gens Iulia (most likely Octavia, Caesar’s grand niece), Juba II was raised in Rome and had access to its finest teachers. Juba II proved himself to be a brilliant student and retained his fascination for the arts and sciences his entire life. On the ideas of March 44 BC, Caesar was famously assassinated, whereupon his heir Octavian took responsibility for completing Juba II's training. For example, Octavian provided Juba II some valuable on-the-job military experience at battles marking the end of the Roman Republic. The two men harbored a lifelong friendship.
Around the time Octavian received the title of Augustus, he restored Juba II as Numidia’s monarch and arranged a suitable Queen, namely Cleopatra Selene II, the daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony. The pair seemed destined for one another given a shared pathos: orphaned, taken as prisoners on triumphal parade, pardoned, and fostered by Rome. The royal newlyweds moved to Mauretania and renamed its capital as Caesarea in honor of their benefactor. Under new royal management the city developed into an impressive cultural hub of mixed Egyptian, Greek, and Roman influences. Juba II and Cleopatra Selene enthusiastically promoted the performing arts and sciences, in particular research related to natural history.
This coin was struck in Caesarea during the height of Juba II's reign circa 16-17 AD. The obverse diademed bust suggests Roman sensibilities. The epithet of REX IVBA (King Juba) reflects Mauritania's status as a client kingdom. The reverse has a more Egyptian flair, depicting a filleted cornucopia before a transverse scepter, with a crescent in the upper right field. Such iconography was popular among the Ptolemaic dynasts.
The image of the cornucopia reflected Cleopatra Selene’s heritage and the realm's growing prosperity. At that time, Mauretania was an important Mediterranean trading center. Among its exports was an exquisitely valuable purple dye manufactured from the Murex shellfish via a process borrowed from the ancient Phoenicians. The confluence of relative prosperity and stability allowed for advancement of the arts and sciences, which Juba II and Cleopatra Selene enthusiastically promoted. Juba II amassed an impressive library and authored dozens of treatises on learned topics ranging from history to painting to classical theatre. During his lifetime, Juba II's most renowned tome was his guide to Arabia. His favorite subject was natural history. He sponsored and engaged in research expeditions, including a journey to the Canary Islands (reportedly named by Juba II based on its population of ferocious-looking dogs).
Juba II remained Rome’s loyal and powerful ally until his death around 23 AD. His son Ptolemy ascended Mauretania's throne and maintained his father’s legacy of supporting the arts and sciences at home as well as the Empire's interests abroad. However, in 40 AD, Ptolemy was summoned to Rome by Caligula and, after an appropriately warm welcome, was abruptly imprisoned and executed. The capricious Emperor's verdict — likely precipitated by jealousy over Ptolemy's Murex dye-colored attire — wrought the end of Mauretania's Golden Age that culminated under Juba II's rule.
Additional Reading: D W Roller, “Scholarly Kings: The Writings of Juba II of Mauretania, Archelaos of Kappadokia, Herod the Great, and the Emperor Claudius,” 2004.
Coin Details: KINGDOM OF MAURETANIA, Juba II, 25 BC-AD 23/24, AR denarius (17 mm 3.1 g), Caesarea, ca. 16-17 AD, NGC Grade: AU, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 4/5, Obverse: Diademed head right, REX IVBA before, Reverse: Filleted cornucopia before transverse scepter, crescent in upper right field, References: SNG Copenhagen 593-594.