Obverse: Nabatean king Aretas kneeling to the right, holding reins and an olive branch before a standing camel. Reverse: Jupiter driving a quadriga to the left, holding reins and hurling a thunderbolt, with a scorpion below the horses.

Aretas III of Nabataea submitted to Marcus Aemilius Scaurus in 62 BC during Pompey's eastern settlement, ransoming his kingdom and the city of Petra; the moneyer, son of that Scaurus, advertised the family's role in the affair when he served as curule aedile.

The reverse refers to the moneyer's colleague Publius Plautius Hypsaeus, whose family claimed descent from a hero associated with Jupiter, while the scorpion likely alludes to his birth sign or to a personal badge.

Lightly toned with edge scrape on reverse

Toned surfaces with porosity, bankers' marks, light scratches, and shallow edge test cut.

Attractively toned with golden and iridescent hues.

Toned with iridescence, slightly off center

Vibrant iridescent toning, minor spot of die rust on reverse, areas of weakness, light scratches

Lightly toned with light scratches and deposits.

Beautifully iridescent toning with light marks under tone. Unusually well struck and nicely centered.

Iridescent toning, porosity, scrapes on obverse

Lightly toned with light porosity and scratches. Banker's mark present.

Attractively toned with thin reverse die break and minor horn silver.

Lightly toned, struck off center, minor graffito on obverse, some light scratches

Deeply toned with find patina. Reverse struck somewhat off center.

Well centered with attractive deep iridescent toning

Toned, reverse struck somewhat off center

Toned with some iridescence, banker's mark on obverse, some scratches on reverse

Light iridescent toning, a few scratches, struck slightly off center

Attractive tone with scratch in obverse field

Light iridescent tone, underlying luster, scratch on obverse

Darkly toned with deposits and die break on reverse

Deep iridescent tone, struck slightly off center

Toned with underlying luster, minor weakness of strike

Lightly toned with some porosity and a few marks

Well-preserved with moderate wear consistent with circulation.

Light iridescent toning, scratches on obverse. Typical off center strike on a compact flan.

Toned with light scratches and marks. Typical off center strike.

Toned with light deposits in the devices, struck off center.

Some obverse die rust, reverse struck slightly off center

Toned, obverse struck slightly off center, edge bruise.

Attractive find patina with a couple scratches and marks

Lightly toned with some weakness of strike and slightly off center.

Lightly toned with a few light scratches and marks, struck off center.

Toned surface with obverse struck slightly off center. Horn silver present.

Light iridescent toning, lustrous, minor obverse die rust


3/19/25	$425	VF	CNG	▲ +82%
12/4/24	$250	F	CNG	— 0%
11/6/24	$130	VF	CNG	▼ −44%
7/17/24	$400	XF	CNG	— 0%
5/15/24	$150	VF	CNG	▼ −36%

Denarius of M. Aemilius Scaurus and Pub. Plautius HypsaeusCrawford 422/1b

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