Spain, Bolscan–Osca. AR Denarius, circa 80–72 BC.

Spain, Bolscan–Osca. AR Denarius, circa 80–72 BC. Obv. Bearded male head right, wearing pearl necklace; behind, bon in Iberian script. Rev. Warrior on horseback galloping right, holding spear; in exergue, bolskan in Iberian characters. 20 mm, 3.68 g. ACIP 1423; CNH p. 212, 13; SNG BM Spain 710–733. Attractive old cabinet tone. Ex-Kress 113. November 23, 1959. Lot 359

Struck at Bolscan (later Osca) in northeastern Hispania during the turbulent decades of the Sertorian War, this denarius is among the most recognizable of the Iberian series. The obverse presents a bearded male head, often interpreted as a local chieftain or ancestral figure, adorned with a pearl necklace, a motif deeply rooted in indigenous Iberian iconography. The legend bon behind the head is written in the native Northeastern Iberian script, affirming the autonomy and cultural identity of the issuing community. The reverse features a dynamic Iberian horseman, a signature theme of the region’s silver coinage and a symbol of the highly mobile cavalry forces for which Hispania was renowned. The rider’s lowered spear and forward motion evoke martial readiness, and the inscription bolskan in the exergue identifies the minting town itself. Produced at a time when Iberian cities were navigating alliances between Roman factions and regional powers, these coins circulated widely through the Ebro valley and served both as local currency and as a statement of civic identity. A finely preserved example, notable for its sharp detail and attractive toning.