Denarius of Juba II of Mauretania c. 16 - 17

Editor: Here we have a silver Denarius of Juba II of Mauretania. It’s so tiny! It feels like holding history in your palm. What stories do you think this little coin whispers? Curator: Ah, the whispers of empires! For me, it echoes with Juba's tightrope walk—balancing Roman influence with his own North African heritage. It's not just currency, it's a carefully curated PR campaign on a minuscule scale. What image was he trying to convey, I wonder? Editor: So, it was more than just money? Almost like political art? Curator: Precisely! Think of it: Juba, educated in Rome, returns to rule Mauretania. Every symbol, every portrait, it’s all carefully chosen. It’s a silent conversation between ruler and ruled, a way to shape perception and solidify power. It's really incredible. Editor: I never thought of ancient coins as anything other than money before, but this piece makes me see them in a completely new light.