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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Arabia||View Options:  |  |  |   

Ancient Coins of Arabia

Marcus Aurelius, 7 March 161 - 17 March 180 A.D., Bostra, Decapolis

|Marcus| |Aurelius|, |Marcus| |Aurelius,| |7| |March| |161| |-| |17| |March| |180| |A.D.,| |Bostra,| |Decapolis||AE| |16|
Portraits of the young Marcus Aurelius as Caesar are a favorite among many collectors.
RY13610. Bronze AE 16, Spijkerman 20, gF, weight 1.73 g, maximum diameter 16.1 mm, die axis 0o, Bostra (Bosra, Syria) mint, as caesar, 138 - 161 A.D.; obverse AYPHΛIOC KAICAP, bare headed cuirassed bust right; reverse TYXHN TPAI BOC, turreted and draped bust of Tyche right; price reduced to Forum's cost!; rare; SOLD


Gaza(?), Philistia or Arabia, c. 353 - 330 B.C., Imitative Athenian Pi-Style Tetradrachm

|Judaea| |&| |Palestine|, |Gaza(?),| |Philistia| |or| |Arabia,| |c.| |353| |-| |330| |B.C.,| |Imitative| |Athenian| |Pi-Style| |Tetradrachm||tetradrachm|
This coin is from the hoard containing at least 76 Athenian-type owls, both Athenian issues and Egyptian and Levantine imitations, and two silver "dumps" cataloged and discussed by Peter G. van Alfen, in "A New Athenian "Owl" and Bullion Hoard from the Near East" in AJN 16-17 (2004-05), pp. 47-61, and pl. 6-13. The hoard is rumored to have come from the western coast of the Arabian Peninsula.

The obverse of this coin is die linked to examples with the Aramaic letter mem on the reverse (van Alfen style group Ia, Gitler and Tal V.17), which may abbreviate Marnas, the patron deity of Gaza.
Temple of Fortuna
SH66392. Silver tetradrachm, Van Alfen New, Semitic Style Group Ia, p. 56 and pl. 11, 56 (this coin); cf. Gitler and Tal V.17 (with mem on reverse, Gaza), VF, weight 16.178 g, maximum diameter 21.7 mm, die axis 270o, Gaza(?) mint, c. 353 - 330 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right with eye seen in true profile, wearing crested helmet ornamented with three olive leaves and floral scroll; reverse owl standing right, head facing, to right AΘE in large lettering, to left olive sprig and crescent; ex Amphora Coins, catalog 98, 150, Van Alfen New plate coin; rare; SOLD


Levant, Egypt or Arabia, Imitative Athenian Transitional Style Tetradrachm, c. 350 - 330 B.C.

|Athens|, |Levant,| |Egypt| |or| |Arabia,| |Imitative| |Athenian| |Transitional| |Style| |Tetradrachm,| |c.| |350| |-| |330| |B.C.||tetradrachm|
This coin is from the hoard containing at least 76 Athenian-type owls, both Athenian issues and Egyptian and Levantine imitations, and two silver "dumps" cataloged and discussed by Peter G. van Alfen, in "A New Athenian "Owl" and Bullion Hoard from the Near East" in AJN 16-17 (2004-05), pp. 47-61, and pl. 6-13. The hoard is rumored to have come from the western coast of the Arabian Peninsula.
SH66406. Silver tetradrachm, Van Alfen New p. 58 and pl. 12, 67 (this coin), VF, test cut on reverse, weight 16.983 g, maximum diameter 24.3 mm, die axis 270o, non-Athenian Eastern mint, c. 353 - 294 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right with eye seen in true profile, wearing crested helmet ornamented with three olive leaves and floral scroll; reverse owl standing right, head facing, to right AΘE in large lettering, to left olive sprig and crescent; Van Alfen New plate coin; very rare; SOLD


Mesopotamia, Levant, Arabia, or Egypt, Imitative Old Style Tetradrachm, c. 450 - 350 B.C.

|Athens|, |Mesopotamia,| |Levant,| |Arabia,| |or| |Egypt,| |Imitative| |Old| |Style| |Tetradrachm,| |c.| |450| |-| |350| |B.C.||tetradrachm|
From Mesopotamia, across the Levante and Arabia, to Egypt, Persian satraps and local rulers struck imitative Athenian type tetradrachms. Some were struck with styles much different from the Athenian originals. Some included monograms or inscriptions in Aramaic or other local scripts. The style of this coin is close to the original Athenian but unusual enough that we are convinced it is an imitative. In particular, Athena's face is distorted and the owls eyes are unusually large.
GS86605. Silver tetradrachm, cf. Dewing 1622; SNG Cop 40; Svoronos Athens pl. 17, 18; SNG Munchen 56; HGC 4 1597; SGCV I 2526, gVF, centered on a tight flan, bumps and marks, punch on obverse, banker's mark on reverse, tiny edge cracks, weight 17.243 g, maximum diameter 24.6 mm, die axis 225o, unofficial mint, c. 450 - 350 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right, almond shaped eye, crested helmet with olive leaves and floral scroll, wire necklace, round earring, hair in parallel curves into ear; reverse owl standing right, head facing, erect in posture, olive sprig and crescent left, AΘΕ downward on right, all within incuse square; SOLD


Elagabalus, 16 May 218 - 11 March 222 A.D., Charachmoba, Arabia

|Roman| |Arabia|, |Elagabalus,| |16| |May| |218| |-| |11| |March| |222| |A.D.,| |Charachmoba,| |Arabia||AE| |23|
Coins of Charachmoba (Kerak, Jordan today) were struck only for Elagabalus and are very rare. Kerak has been inhabited since at least the Iron Age. It was an important city for the Moabites. In the Bible it is called Qer Harreseth or Kir of Moab and was subject to the Assyrian empire; in the Books of Kings (16:9) and Book of Amos (1:5, 9:7), it is mentioned as the place where the Syrians went before they settled in the regions north of Palestine, and to which Tiglath-Pileser III sent the prisoners after the conquest of Damascus. It became important in the late Hellenistic Period, and eventually fell under Nabataean rule. Rome took it in 105 A.D., with support from the Arab Ghassanid tribe (who still live in there). Today Karak is best known for the crusader's Kerak Castle.
RP72143. Bronze AE 23, Spijkerman 1; Rosenberger 1; BMC Arabia p. 27, 1; Sofaer p. 157 and pl. 134, 1; Meshorer City-Coins 276 var. (retrograde rev leg); SNG ANS -, VF, nice green patina, a few pits, weight 7.750 g, maximum diameter 22.9 mm, die axis 135o, Charachmoba (Kerak, Jordan) mint, 16 May 218 - 11 Mar 222 A.D.; obverse AV K M AV ANTWNINO, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind, flower (star?) in right field; reverse XAPAX MWBA, Tyche standing facing, head left, wearing kalathos, chiton, and mantle, holding rudder by tiller in right, cornucopia in left; none of the references mention the flower (or star) on the obverse, but it may have originally been present on most specimens; very rare; SOLD


Nabataean Kingdom, Syllaeus and Aretas IV, 9 B.C.

|Nabataean| |Kingdom|, |Nabataean| |Kingdom,| |Syllaeus| |and| |Aretas| |IV,| |9| |B.C.||1/4| |drachm| |or| |denarius|
Aretas IV was probably the son of Obodas III, but this is not certain. Syllaeus was chief minister for Obodas III and initially shared rule with Aretas after Obodas death. But the rulers of Nabataea served under the authority of Rome and Rome, begrudging Syllaeus as an enemy, did not approve. In 24 B.C. Syllaeus had betrayed Rome causing the near complete massacre of a Roman army sent into Arabia Felix. Syllaeus was called to the court at Rome, where in 6 B.C. he was convicted of treason and Obodas' murder. He was beheaded and his body was pitched from the Tarpeian Rock.
SH12877. Silver 1/4 drachm or denarius, Barkay CN 76; Al-Qatanani 61, Meshorer Nabataean Sup. 4; Schmitt-Korte III pl. 10, Choice VF, weight 1.069 g, maximum diameter 12.0 mm, die axis 0o, Petra (Jordan) mint, 9 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Obodas II, Syllaes' Nabataean letter shin behind; reverse S (shin = Syllaeus) and H (heth = Aretas) in wreath; very rare; SOLD


Athens, Attica, Greece, c. 353 - 350 B.C., Pi-Style II Tetradrachm

|Athens|, |Athens,| |Attica,| |Greece,| |c.| |353| |-| |350| |B.C.,| |Pi-Style| |II| |Tetradrachm||tetradrachm|
This coin is from the hoard containing at least 76 Athenian-type owls, both Athenian issues and Egyptian and Levantine imitations, and two silver "dumps" cataloged and discussed by Peter G. van Alfen, in "A New Athenian "Owl" and Bullion Hoard from the Near East" in AJN 16-17 (2004-05), pp. 47-61, and pl. 6-13. The hoard is rumored to have come from the western coast of the Arabian Peninsula.
SH66402. Silver tetradrachm, Van Alfen New p. 53 and pl. 7, 18 (this coin); Kroll Pi-Style p. 243, fig. 6; Svoronos Athens pl. 20, 13; SNG Delepierre 1475 ff.; SNG Munchen 91 ff., VF, test cut on obverse, owl's beak flattened, weight 17.013 g, maximum diameter 23.9 mm, die axis 270o, Athens mint, c. 353 - 294 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right with eye seen in true profile, wearing crested helmet ornamented with three olive leaves and floral scroll; reverse owl standing right, head facing, to right AΘE in large lettering, to left olive sprig and crescent; Van Alfen New plate coin; SOLD


Athens, Attica, Greece, 353 - c. 340 B.C., Pi-Style III Tetradrachm, Van Alfen New Plate Coin

|Athens|, |Athens,| |Attica,| |Greece,| |353| |-| |c.| |340| |B.C.,| |Pi-Style| |III| |Tetradrachm,| |Van| |Alfen| |New| |Plate| |Coin||tetradrachm|
This coin is from the hoard containing at least 76 Athenian-type owls, both Athenian issues and Egyptian and Levantine imitations, and two silver "dumps" cataloged and discussed by Peter G. van Alfen, in "A New Athenian "Owl" and Bullion Hoard from the Near East" in AJN 16-17 (2004-05), pp. 47-61, and pl. 6-13. The hoard is rumored to have come from the western coast of the Arabian Peninsula.Temple of Fortuna
GS86163. Silver tetradrachm, Van Alfen New p. 53 & pl. 7, 16 (this coin); Kroll Pi-Style p. 244, fig. 8; Flament p. 126, 3; SNG Cop 63; SNG Munchen 96; SNG Delepierre 1479, VF, tight flan typical for the type, bumps and marks, test cut on each side with corresponding flattening on the opposite side, areas of mild porosity, weight 17.041 g, maximum diameter 21.4 mm, die axis 270o, Athens mint, 353 - c. 340 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right with eye seen in true profile, wearing crested helmet ornamented with three olive leaves and pi-style floral scroll, pellet in ear; reverse owl standing right, head facing, olive sprig and crescent left, AΘΕ downward on right, all within incuse square; Van Alfen New plate coin, ex David Hendin; SOLD


Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Bostra, Arabia

|Trajan|, |Trajan,| |25| |January| |98| |-| |8| |or| |9| |August| |117| |A.D.,| |Bostra,| |Arabia||tridrachm|
This type was previously attributed to Caesarea, Cappadocia but recent hoard evidence indicates it was struck in Bostra, Arabia.
RY10962. Silver tridrachm, SNG ANS 1160, SNGvA 6396, Sydenham Caesarea 190a, aEF, weight 10.26 g, maximum diameter 24.8 mm, die axis 135o, Bostra (Bosra, Syria) mint, 112 - 114 A.D.; obverse AYTOKP KAIC NEP TPAIANOC CEB ΓEPM ΔAK, laureate head right with drapery on left shoulder; reverse ΔHMAPX EΞ YΠATOC (holder of Tribunitian power, consul), distyle temple, eagle in pediment, containing cult image of Artemis of Perge; some areas with mint luster, others a little frosty, ex Edward J. Waddell; SOLD


Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Struck for Use in Roman Arabia

|Roman| |Arabia|, |Trajan,| |25| |January| |98| |-| |8| |or| |9| |August| |117| |A.D.,| |Struck| |for| |Use| |in| |Roman| |Arabia||tridrachm|
This type was previously attributed to Caesarea, Cappadocia, but the Tell Kalak hoard and a lack of finds in Cappadocia indicate the type circulated in Arabia. Slightly more than two-thirds silver, the composition of this type is identical to contemporary Syrian tetradrachms. The weight indicates they are tridrachms, but there is no consensus as to the denomination. Sydenham and Kindler refer to them as tridrachms, McAlee as light tetradrachms, and Butcher as tetradrachms. The type has no iconographic link with Arabia and Arabian drachms are considerably more debased, typically at a 50:50 ratio of silver to bronze. RPC III notes they may have been struck in Rome for circulation in Arabia, or at least, the dies were made in Rome.
RS97644. Silver tridrachm, RPC III 4071 (23 spec.); Henseler 267; Sydenham Caesarea 190a; SNG ANS 1161 (Caesarea); BMC Galatia p. 55, 74 (Caesarea), VF, superb "Roman" dies portrait, toned, flow lines, light bumps and scratches, reverse slightly off center, edge splits, weight 10.347 g, maximum diameter 23.7 mm, die axis 180o, Bostra(?) mint, 112 - 114 A.D.; obverse AYTOKP KAIC NEP TPAIANOC CEB ΓEPM ΔAK, laureate and draped bust right, seen from slightly behind; reverse ΔHMAPX EΞ YΠATOC (holder of Tribunitian power, consul), distyle temple, podium of four steps, cult image of Artemis of Perge within, eagle standing on pediment with head left and wings open; scarce; SOLD




  




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REFERENCES

Al-Qatanani, Y. Nabataean Coins. (Jordan, 2020).
Barkay, R. "New Nabataean Coins" in INJ 16 (2007-8), pp. 92 - 99.
Barkay, R. "Seven new silver coins of Malichus I and Obodas III" in NC 166 (2006), pp. 99 - 103.
Barkay, R. "The Coinage of the Last Nabataean King, Rabbel II (AD 70/1-105/6)" in NC 174 (2014), pp. 29 - 44, pl. 6 - 7.
Barkay, R. The Coinage of the Nabataeans. Qedem 58. (Jerusalem, 2019).
Barkay, R. "The Coinage of the Nabataean Usurper Syllaeus (c. 9–6 BC)" in NC 177 (2017), pp. 67 - 81, pl. 13 - 14.
Barkay, R. "The Earliest Nabataean Coinage" in NC 171 (2011), pp. 67 - 73, pl. 4 - 5.
Burnett, A., M. Amandry, et al. Roman Provincial Coinage. (1992 - ).
Bowersock, G. Roman Arabia. (Cambridge, 1983).
Bowsher, J. "Early Nabataean Coinage" in ARAM 2:1-2 (1990), pp. 221 - 228.
Cohen, E. Dated Coins of Antiquity: A comprehensive catalogue of the coins and how their numbers came about. (Lancaster, PA, 2011).
Dussad, R. "Numismatique des rois de Nabatene" in Journal Asiatique 12 (March - April 1904), pp. 189 - 238, pls. I - IV.
Forrer, L. Descriptive Catalogue of the Collection of Greek Coins formed by Sir Hermann Weber, Vol III, Part 2. (London, 1926).
Hill, G. A Catalogue of the Greek Coins in the British Museum - Arabia, Mesopotamia and Persia. (London, 1922).
Hoover, O. "A Reassessment of Nabataean Lead Coinage in Light of New Discoveries" in NC 166 (2006), pp. 105 - 119, pl. 27 - 30.
Hoover, O. Handbook of Coins of the Southern Levant: Phoenicia, Southern Koile Syria (Including Judaea), and Arabia, Fifth to First Centuries BC. HGC 10. (Lancaster, PA, 2010).
Hoover, O. "More New Nabatean Lead Issues of Aretas IV" in INR 7 (2012), pp. 107 - 113, pl. 13.
Hoover, O. & R. Barkay. "Important Additions to the Corpus of Nabataean Coins since 1990" in Huth CCK. (New York, 2010), pp. 197 - 212, pl. 17 - 18.
Huth, M. Coinage of the Caravan Kingdoms, Ancient Arabian Coins from the Collection of Martin Huth. ACNAC 10. (New York, 2010).
Huth, M. & P. van Alfen. Coinage of the Caravan Kingdoms. Studies in the Monetization of Ancient Arabia. ANSNS 25. (New York, 2010).
Kindler, A. The Coinage of Bostra. (Oxford, 1983).
Lindgren, H. and F. Kovacs. Ancient Bronze Coinage of Asia Minor and the Levant. (San Mateo, 1985).
Lindgren, H. Ancient Greek Bronze Coins. (Quarryville, 1993).
Meshorer, Y. City-Coins of Eretz Israel and the Decapolis in the Roman Period. (Jerusalem, 1985).
Meshorer, Y. Nabatean Coins, Qedem 3. (Jerusalem, 1975).
Meshorer, Y. A Treasury of Jewish Coins from the Persian Period to Bar Kokhba. (Jerusalem, 2001).
Mitchiner, M. Oriental Coins: the Ancient and Classical World. (London, 1978).
Munro-Hay, S.C. "Coins of Ancient South Arabia" in NC 154 (1994).
Munro-Hay, S.C. "Coins of Ancient South Arabia II" in NC 156 (1996).
Nicolet-Pierre, H. "Thionèsis, roi de Characène (25/24-20/19 ou 19/18 avant J.-C.)" in Revue Numismatique 6e sér. 20. (1978).
Plant, R. "The Coinage of the Nabataeans" in Seaby Coin and Medal Bulletin, March 1979, pp. 81-84.
Robinson, E. "Coins from Petra etc." in NC 1936, pp. 288 - 291, pl. XVII.
Schmitt-Korte, K. & M. Cowell. "Nabatean Coinage - Part I. The Silver Content Measured by X-ray Fluorescence Analysis" in NC 1989, pp. 33 - 58, pl. 11 - 17.
Schmitt-Korte, K. "Nabatean Coinage - Part II. New Coin Types and Variants" in NC 1990, pp. 105 - 133, pl. 10 - 15.
Schmitt-Korte, K. & M. Price. "Nabatean Coinage - Part III. The Nabatean Monetary System" in NC 1994, pp. 67 - 131, pl. 10 - 12.
Sear, D. Greek Imperial Coins and Their Values. (London, 1982).
Spikerman. A. The coins of the Decapolis and Provincial Arabia. (Jerusalem, 1978).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, USA, The Collection of the American Numismatic Society, Part 6: Palestine - South Arabia. (New York, 1981).
Tal, O. "Coin denominations and weight standards in fourth-century BCE Palestine" in INR 2, pp. 24 - 28.
van Alfen, P. "A Die Study of the Eastern Arabian Abiel Coinage" in Coinage of the Caravan Kingdoms. (New York, 2010).
van Alfen, P. "A New Athenian "Owl" and Bullion Hoard from the Near East" in AJN 16 - 17 (2004-2005).

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