Utica Denarius Of Juba I — Octastyle Temple — Certificate Of Authenticity

COIN AVAILABLE — THE DIFFERENT PAYMENT METHODS ARE LISTED AT THE END OF THE DESCRIPTION.

This silver denarius of Juba I, struck at Utica in the period circa 60–46 BC, belongs to one of the most sought-after types of Numidian coinage, as it combines, on the obverse, the royal assertion REX IVBA with a diademed portrait holding a sceptre on the shoulder, and, on the reverse, an octastyle temple on a podium surrounded by a Neo-Punic legend—an exact typological combination documented by RPC I 717B, as well as by the references MAA 29, Mazard 85, and Price & Trell 17.

Close examination with a ×10 loupe and raking light: careful review of the photographs, carried out through successive reading of the beaded border, the fields, the relief, the legends, and the flan edges, reveals a lively silver surface marked by old rubs consistent with circulation. The beaded border remains largely present on both sides. The coin shows visible peripheral flan irregularities, notably on the reverse in the upper right area; these irregularities integrate into the overall morphology of the strike without preventing recognition of the type, which rests on the conjunction of the royal title, the shoulder sceptre, the Neo-Punic legend, and the eight-column temple.

The legend REX•IVBA• is readable around the field and corresponds to the standardized inscription described for this type in the corpora, providing a direct and immediately verifiable epigraphic anchor.

The diademed and draped bust of Juba I, facing right, shows the sceptre resting on the right shoulder, a distinctive detail explicitly noted in the reference descriptions.

The reverse depicts an octastyle temple (eight columns) on a podium, with clearly structured architecture: well-separated vertical columns and a stepped base.

The Neo-Punic legend ŠYWBY HMMLKT frames the type; the presence of this formula is an essential marker of the Utica mint and of Numidian royal titulature.

• Authority: KINGS OF NUMIDIA — Juba I, circa 60–46 BC

• Mint: Utica

• Denomination / metal: Denarius, silver

• Obverse: REX•IVBA•, diademed and draped bust right, sceptre on right shoulder

• Reverse: Neo-Punic ŠYWBY HMMLKT, octastyle temple on podium

• References: MAA 29; Mazard 85; Price & Trell 17; RPC I 717B

• Diameter / weight: 18 mm; 3.78 g

The Utica issue belongs to the phase in which the Numidia of Juba I was involved in the major conflicts of the late Roman Republic. The choice of an architectural reverse, showing an octastyle temple, is commonly interpreted as evidence of monumentalization and the staging of cults and power in a language increasingly shared with the Greco-Roman horizon, while still preserving—through the Neo-Punic legend—the assertion of a local authority and cultural continuity.

For a collector, this denarius offers exceptional patrimonial density, combining a highly legible Latin royal title, Neo-Punic epigraphy of major historical interest, and an immediately recognizable cabinet-type architectural reverse. The type is sufficiently documented in collections and sales to allow scholarly comparison, while remaining regularly noted as sought-after and uncommon in a state of preservation that still displays readable architecture.

In accordance with our practice, each specimen is examined, described, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity in line with the standards of the art and heritage market. The study is conducted with close observation under a ×10 loupe and raking light. Provenance is European, sourced from an established numismatic dealer, and the acquisition stems from a specialized international transaction conducted within a recognized numismatic network and validated by reference experts, according to the highest standards of the art and heritage market.

Any presentation elements possibly visible in the photographs are intended solely for staging and are not included in the sale.

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