Juba II, with Kleopatra Selene
Caesarea 8-15 CE
Æ 26mm, 6,99g
Obv. REX IVBA, Diademed and draped bust of Juba right, with club over shoulder.
Rev. Headdress of Isis; crescent above, BACI-ΛICCA across fields, KΛЄΟΠΑΤΡA in exergue.
Mazard 351; SNG Cop. 605
Caesarea in Mauretania was located at the modern day city of Cherchell, Algeria. It was founded around 400 BCE by settlers from Carthage and eventually became part of the Kingdom of Numidia.
King Juba II and his wife, Kleopatra Selene, who is named on this coin, fled here. Kleopatra Selene was the daughter of Kleopatra of Egypt and Marc Antony, and had been taken by the Romans and educated by Augustus in Rome. When they relocated to Caesarea, Juba and Kleopatra, who was strong-willed as her parentage suggested, rebuilt the city as a Roman outpost and brought in considerable wealth.
Their son Ptolemy was summoned to Rome in 40 CE by Caligula and murdered there, which set off a revolt in the province. Four years later it was finally pacified by Claudius, who separated the province into two.
Caesarea in Mauretania founded by settlers from Carthage.
Approximate year when Juba II and Kleopatra Selene settle in Caesarea in Mauretania.
A rebellion starts in Caesarea in Mauretania after the Numidian king Ptolemy is murdered by Caligula.
The rebellion in Caesarea in Mauretania is quelled by Claudius and the province is split into two.