ROMAN REPUBLICAN. Faustus Cornelius Sulla. 56 B.C. AR denarius. 4.04 gm. 18 mm. Rome mint. Draped and diademed bust of Diana right, wearing cruciform earring, necklace of pendants, and her hair in knot at back of head, decorated with jewels; crescent above, lituus to left, FAVSTVS downwards to right / Sulla seated left on raised seat, above kneeling figures of Bocchus, King of Mauretania, to left kneeling right offering an olive branch, and Jugurtha, King of Numidia, to right kneeling left with hands tied behind his back; FELIX downwards to right. Crawford 426/1. Sydenham 879. RSC Cornelia 59. Good Very Fine; beautiful old tone with light iridescence. Very Rare.

From an old European collection.

This coin commemorates an historic event in the dictator Sulla's early career. Lucius Cornelius Sulla served under Marius in Africa where he engineered the capture of the rebel leader Jugurtha, a wily Numidian prince who had evaded Roman capture for several years. This coin issued by his son, Faustus Cornelius Sulla, shows Jugurtha kneeling bound and dejected behind Sulla, while before kneels Bochus, King of Mauritania, offering Sulla victory laurels. Sulla had a signet ring engraved commemorating the event, and it may be the model for the reverse.