AE Unit

Struck: 209 – 203 B.C.
Mint: Carthago Nova
Size: 23mm
Weight: 11.64g
Die Axis: ~5°
Grade: VF
Ref: ACIP 609; SNG BM Spain 127-128

Obv: Large male head left (Scipio Africanus?).
Rev: Horse standing right, palm tree behind.
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Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus was born sometime around 236-235 B.C in Rome Italy. He was a Roman General and later consul who is often regarded as one of the best military commanders of all time. His greatest achievements were during the Second Punic War with his defeat of the Carthaginians under the command of Hannibal.

Scipio fought with his father who was consul during the 2nd Punic war. When his father and uncle were killed in battle in 211, Scipio was given the command of Rome's forces in Spain. Two years later, he took the city of Carthago Nova (New Carthage), the center of Carthaginian power in Spain.

At the Battle of Baecula in 208, Scipio defeated Hasdrubal (Hannibal's brother), who escaped to Italy with some of his troops. The next year, Scipio convinced the local population in Spain to forswear Carthage and pledge their allegiance to Rome. In 206, Scipio defeated the remaining Carthaginian forces in Spain, which placed Spain under Roman control.

In 202 B.C., the armies of Scipio and Hannibal faced each other in the Battle of Zama. During the conflict, the Romans sounded horns that panicked the Carthaginian elephants, causing them to reverse and trample many of Hannibal's troops. Scipio's forces were triumphant and the Carthaginians sued for peace, thus ending the Second Punic War.

Scipio retired to his country seat at Liternum on the coast of Campania. He lived there until his death, likely in 183. Coincidentally the same year his great rival Hannibal died.