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1/2 Shekel - Hiempsal II
| Issuer | Numidia |
|---|---|
| Year | 88 BC - 60 BC |
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| Composition | Silver |
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| Obverse description | Bare male head facing right, likely a portrait of King Hiempsal II rendered in a Hellenistic style, with finely detailed curly hair adorned with a wreath of grain or laurel. The facial features are naturalistic, showing a clean-shaven profile with a strong jaw and well-modeled cheek. A beaded border is visible along the right edge of the flan. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A free-running horse galloping to the right, depicted in a dynamic, energetic pose with forelegs raised and mane flowing; the type is characteristic of Numidian coinage evoking the region's celebrated equestrian tradition. The horse is enclosed within a laurel wreath border that frames the entire reverse field. A small control mark or symbol appears beneath the horse in the lower field. |
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| Additional information |
Hiempsal II ruled Numidia as a client of Rome following Sulla's reorganization of North African political arrangements in the 80s BC. His kingdom was later seized by Caesar's ally Pompey and temporarily absorbed into Roman-aligned territory before his son Juba I inherited and ultimately backed the wrong side at Thapsus in 46 BC. The long reign span attributed to this coinage reflects genuine uncertainty — the bronze and silver issues of Numidian kings are notoriously difficult to sequence with precision.