Coin of Numidia and Mauretania under Juba II c. 5 - 8

Curator: Here we have a coin of Numidia and Mauretania, created under the reign of Juba II. It now resides at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels like holding history in your palm, doesn't it? Aged bronze, whispering tales of empires, trade, and the faces of people long gone. Curator: Indeed. Coins were potent symbols. Notice the imagery: on one side a portrait, likely of Juba II himself, conveying power and authority. Editor: And the other side? I see what looks like a crescent moon and... is that perhaps a lion or some similar beast? Mythic. Curator: Yes, symbols of the kingdom, its aspirations, and its connections to broader cultural and religious beliefs—a blend of Roman and indigenous North African iconography. Editor: So, more than just money, it's a carefully constructed message in metal. I find that fascinating. Curator: Precisely. Material culture offers such a tangible link to understanding the past. Editor: Makes you wonder about the hands it passed through, all those years ago. Quite humbling, actually.