Bilbilis

Bilibilis, Tarraconensis (Hispaniae) municipium; now called Calatayud in Arragon, Spain.


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Bilibilis, Tarraconensis (Hispaniae) municipium; now called Calatayud in Arragon, Spain. On coins it is styled Augusta, from Augustus, by whom, and afterwards by Tiberius and Caligula, municipal and other privileges were conferred upon it. Hence the legend MV AVGVSTA BILBILIS on its mintages, which are colonial imperial, in small and middle brass. Of the following obverse and reverse an engraving is given in Mr Akerman 's Ancient Coins of Cities and Princes, pl |viii| fig 3, p 68:
AVGVSTS, Bare head of Augustus,
BILBILIS, a horseman bearing a lance and galloping. Bronze (British Museum).

On other coins of this Hispano - Roman city, with legends of MV BILBILIS, and BILBILIS AVGVSTA, struck ni honour of Augustus and of Tiberius, laurel as well as oaken garlands appear, (the names of the dunmviri within). The laurels on account of victories; the oak leaves on pretence of "citizens preserved." To flatter even Caligula, the inhabitants of Bilbilis dedicated a reverse with a crown of laurel, to that pusillanimous tyrant, with whose reign to coinage of this municipium appears to have ceased. Vaillant (in Col. |i| 12) has engraved a coin of Bilbilis and Italica in alliance. On the obverse is BILBILI, a beardless male head. Reverse: ITALICA, a horseman with couched lance, charging. See Mionnet, Supplt. |i| 55. Also Akerman (p 66), who says, "Bilbilis, the capital of the Celtiberi, was celebrated for its waters, which were supposed to possess the quality of imparting excellent temper to steel."


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