End of the (Silk) Road

I have been thinking about this coin more recently. I know others here have examples of it. I just purchased this example yesterday due to the reverse:



ARABIA. Bostra. Trajan (98-117). Drachm.
Obv: AYTOKP KAIC NEP TRAIANW ARICTW CEB ΓΕΡΜ ΔΑΚ.
Laureate and cuirassed bust left.
Rev: ΔHMAPX EΞ YΠATO S.
Camel standing left.
Kindler Pl. VI, 12.
Weight: 3.12 g.
Diameter: 19 mm.

Most people here know of the Silk Road. It went from China to the Roman Empire carrying Silk and other exotic items. Most know that it passed from China, through Sogdian and Persia, and on to Constantinople. Here is a map with the Silk Road in orange, and Indian trade in blue:



So, knowing this, why would a Bactrian camel be shown on a coin from a town in the middle of the desert, where the Silk Road didn't travel to? There are two types of camels, dromedary, (one humped), or Bactrian, (two humped). The coin clearly shows a Bactrian camel, including the fur under the neck. Dromedary camels do not have furry necks like this.



So we have a coin on the spice road,(southern modern day Syria), which uses dromedary camels, showing Bactrian camels. Clearly they knew what a dromedary camel looked like. The key to this coin is knowing there were TWO Silk Roads. The "classic" Silk Road was the northern one pictured. This became the standard route only after the Kushans destroyed most towns and villages in Bactria. Before, the Silk Road was much more diverse and southerly and include India more. After the Kushans destroyed travel in the area, the Romans found a way to trade with India navally and the Silk Road moved north forever, with Indian trade being done on the ocean.

However, in the second century when Trajan conquered Bostra, the city must have been a international trading hub, with the Spice route running from the south, and the Silk road from the east. In Bostra, both rich trade routes merged, and continued on to Rome. No wonder why Trajan wanted to control this city founded by the famous Nabatean traders. No sense allowing Persia to control such wealth.

Isn't it cool how a tiny little difference, (species of camel), can tell such an interesting story?

 

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Very nice @medoraman !

 

Best camel I've seen, one or two humped. Congratulations on a marvelous pick up.

 

That is just a great looking coin. Attractive in all aspects to me. Congrats finding this beautiful example.

 

Very interesting and convincing story !
I can make one addition. In Trajan's time there was an additional important trade route, not on your map which cross-linked your northern route with the Indian route.
From the northern ports in India, ships also sayled to Charax, at the northern tip of the Persian gulf. From there the trade route went overland principally to Palmyra in Syria. Here it met with the eastern land trade route. Tajan is even reported to have visited Charax.
I do not have any Roman connected coins but can show a later connection:
This is a coin issued under the authority of Masud al-Kwarezmi. This was the governor of the Karakoram province around 1250AD with Mongke Khan as overlord. The coin was minted in Kashgar, China which is also on your map. Masud controlled the trade route going south from Kashgar. This trade route today still exists and now forms the trajectory of the so-called Karakoram Highway.
AE 30 mm, 5.11 gr. Album-1975.

 

I watched that lot with great interest. That example brings the known to four examples in the sales record. You got it cheap! Mine, well, much more than that.

 

Well done, @medoraman! Great coin, fascinating writeup

 

Amazingly cool OP-score, Med-man (congrats)

=> man, I love the obverse flow-lines!!





... sadly, I'm fairly sure that this is my only camel-example ...





=> congrats again on a very cool coin

 

Wonderful coin and nice write-up !! Two silk Roads---I never would have made the connection otherwise.

I NEED A CAMEL !! One hump or two I don't care!!

 

I was outbid on that. I suppose I am glad that it went to a good home, but not quite sure yet.

 

My only camel...


RR Aemilius Scaurus and Plautius Hypsaeus 58 BC AR Denarius camel scorpion quadriga 4-1g 19mm Rome Cr 422-1b O-R.JPG

 

I have been thinking about this coin for quite a while now. If it helps I had a HUGE bid in on it. You didn't lose it by a little bit. I believe my max bid was about 3 times the final price.

 

I was thinking (drooling) about this coin for a long time too. It does help to know that I was thoroughly outclassed on the price. Post it as often as you can, and yes, I am glad it went to a good home

 

very nice coin! i don't have a camel to post...so here's a corny joke instead.

 

Great camel and info, med. Congrats on the score!

 

The RIGHT facing portrait on this type is more common and you should be able to find one reasonably. This example, with the left facing portrait is very rare, I cant imagine how it escaped the auctioneers. It went for about 1/4 the price (just check the very few prices realized).

Having said that, hopefully it will be delivered. Germany in now in the midst of new laws, and I am still waiting more than a month for customs clearance on my last purchase. I am sure they will be released ultimately, but in what time frame who knows? It is a new thing, and I suppose it could take many months. This will effect the German auction prices.

 

I was wondering what you meant of the rarity of this coin Ken. TBH, I bought it for the reverse and didn't know or care of the obverse or any rarity thereof. Great to know!

 

Some camels are smaller than others.

 

C'mon Mentor => that's an eagle (or maybe a beagle?)

 

A camel and a scorpion walk into a bar, but it turns out it was a dry state, so they only got ginger ales. Hahaha!

A nabatean walks into a bar, the bartender came out with a toga and Scaurus the Nabatean out the door.

A quadriga of horses walk into a bar and the bartender says...hey fellas, why the long faces?

Oh man, I'm on a roll. And they say lawyers don't have a sense of humor. Hahahaha.

Now laugh and give me a like, or I'll sue you!