A young King’s boy, who stemming from a Numidian root was born and educated inside a Greek-Roman niche, had the opportunity to influence both culture and development of his country.

Juba the Second was a brilliant well educated and initiative-prone person - living during the “Augustus Century” - who deserve to be highlighted for the advancement he brought to his Mauritania country, although not so much quoted from ancient historians. Most of his manuscripts or documents about him have been lost. However, the great amount of coins coined under his kingdom records most of his works.

Young Juda, only four years old, was brought to Rome from Julius Caesar, after the victory over Pompeius and his father King of Numidia and was entrusted to Octavian. Thanks his special talent and application to study, he became soon one of the best educated person in Rome. He obtained the kingdom of Numidia on 27 BC and later of the two Mauritanias on 25 BC after having fight with Caesar Augustus in the Anzio battle (31 BC). The Iol city was renamed Cesarea in honour of Caesar Augustus and Juba the Second made it to become the capital city. An other city having a great expansion was Volubilis, where sculptures and important remains of that time have been found. Juba the Second married Cleopatra Selene, daughter of Cleopatra the Great, Queen of Egypt. From the wedding a son was born, Ptolemy. The Egyptian culture brought into the kingdom by the bride was added the already high cultural level of Juba the Second, who was beneficial to his country. The great wisdom of his government, his support to trade and research on both sea and land, the rightful laws, and the backing of sciences and arts during his 48-years-long kingdom are well known.

The great coin production under Juba the Second reflects the increasing prosperity of the country and the widening international trade, especially with Italy and Spain. The coin called “Real”, minted in gold, silver, or bronze, bringing always the names of Juba and Cleopatra, should be distinguished from the anonymous bronze coin called of “City” used commonly by small dealers and for everyday expenses. In his last life-years, from 21 to 23 AD, when he died, Juba the Second ruled together with his son Ptolemy; this time is even better known thanks to the pieces representing both of them, Juba on the obverse and Ptolemy on the back. Juba the Second was recognized also in Athens, where a monument was built to the “African King” as appreciation of his writings. He was often quoted by Pliny the Elder who called him “my Master”. A genus of palm tree, the “Jubaea chilensis” is named after him for his interest and writings on botanics.