Kingdom of Numidia – Micipsa
Cirta mint
Struck circa 148-118 BCE
AE 26mm, 10.7g
Laureate & bearded head left.
Reverse – Horse galloping left
cf. S. 6597 / cf. SNG Cop. 505
Cirta was the capital of the Berber kingdom of Numidia, and is now the city of Constantine, Algeria. It was named Constantine by Constantine the Great.
The environs of the city served as the decisive battle by Scipio Africanus against Carthage in the Second Punic War in 203 BCE. It later became one of the most important African cities after being rebuilt and resettled by Romans. At one point it had as many as 50,000 inhabitants.
Scipio Africanus defeats Hannibal of Carthage in the Battle of Cirta
Death of King Micipsa in Cirta
Cirta comes under direct Roman rule following Julius Caesar‘s conquest of North Africa
The administration of Cirta is modified by Augustus, splitting it into two cities of Numidians and Romans
Cirta renamed Constantine by Constantine the Great
Cirta host to the Second Council of Cirta, including St. Augustine