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As - Massinissa or Micipsa with pellet
| Issuer | Numidia |
|---|---|
| Year | 203 BC - 118 BC |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | GCV#6597, CNNM#45-50, MAA#18, SNG Copenhagen#505-510 |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A horse prancing vigorously to the left, rendered with a naturalistic musculature characteristic of Numidian equestrian iconography, reflecting the kingdom's celebrated cavalry tradition. The animal is depicted with forelegs raised and hindquarters extended in full gallop. A single pellet appears in the lower field beneath the horse, serving as a control or denomination mark. The reverse field is otherwise plain with no legend or exergual line, and the overall style is consistent with the Hellenistic-influenced bronze coinage of the Numidian royal mint. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Numidia's bronze coinage emerged directly from the kingdom's alliance with Rome during the Second Punic War, when Massinissa's cavalry proved decisive at Zama in 202 BC. The pellet mark distinguishes a specific emission within this series and has been associated with distinct circulation zones across the Numidian interior, though scholarly consensus on precise attribution between Massinissa and Micipsa remains unsettled — the dynasty's nearly continuous output over eight decades complicates die-sequence analysis.
Massinissa ruled for over fifty years after Zama, dying in 148 BC reportedly at age 90, still commanding troops in the field.