This is a new addition to my Nabataean types, just arrived yesterday. These coins were struck in large quantities to commemorate the birth of Aretas IV's son, Phasael, circa 5-4 BCE. The palm branch signified a festival occasion in Nabataean culture, like a wedding or birth. I recently read an interesting archeological report from Petra, which states that very few coins of other nations have been found in the excavations there. It attests to the fact that the coinage of the Nabataeans was solidly accepted as legal tender in the Empire. These little bits of bronze were the mainstay of ordinary, everyday commerce... As you can see, I've moved to using actual Nabataean letters in my attributions, rather than Hebrew transliterations. The letter heth is Aretas' initial, the letters pe and sadhe together are an abbreviation of Phasael.
I'm sure you do. They're not as common as the Jugate Bust types, but they aren't scarce. You've probably got a handful. Attribution is iffy with these, though. It seems the engravers were given carte blanche when it came to applying monograms and there are dozens of varieties - and sometimes you just don't know because the coins are usually struck off-center. And thank you for the copy of Overstruck Greek Coins, man! PM me what I owe you.
John, these Nabateans may not be FDC but they are very interesting. I bought one recently, sort of, but offered it as a prize option in a contest and someone chose it before it had even been shipped to me. Need to look for another one or three.
Heh - that's an understatement. Coins only a mother could love, lol. I've always found it an enigma that the builders of Petra made such crappy coins.
Indeed! I guess having beautiful money wasn't that important to them. Or perhaps the coins looked better back in the day.
cool JA, i still got to get a nabatean. i wonder if high ciruculation has taken its toll on them? this is probably the "prettiest" nabatean i've seen in my limited looking about....the price is less attractive...but a cool coin. http://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/c_j...atea_aretas_iv_9_bc_ad_40/447675/Default.aspx
I don't like the look of that coin, Chris. I wouldn't go so far as to call it counterfeit, but it's too bright. Maybe it's the photography, maybe it's had a recent cleaning, but something just doesn't look right. I saw it when the dealer first put it on sale a few months ago and I'm still suspicious. It looks like a replica tourist piece, frankly. By the time of Aretas IV, the "silver" drachms were down to about .500 fine - technically they should be called billon drachms. All of the coins I've seen of this series look like billon. This one looks like pewter.
ja-man => dat's a pretty cool coin, mon!! ... I love the reverse, with the two cornucopiae and the palm (full-points, my friend)
Hi John. Thanks for the expertise. QUESTION: Are there also Nabatean coins depicting Aretas IV's daughter, Phasaelis? If so what are their specific characteristics? Abram
Very interesting Big John, one thing i love about these coins is the color combo. i had a few in my cart and saw something i wanted more, i do have one, some day i'll get a silver one. its way cool we have so many different variety collectors in this group.
Hello Abram. No such coins are cataloged. The only birth commemorative we have so far, on any Nabataean coin, is that of Phasael. Phasael wasn't even Aretas IV's first son, but rather the first son born after he became king. It would be very interesting indeed to have a coin of Phasaelis, as she was the jilted wife of Herod Antipas, whose canoodling of Herodias led to John the Baptist's scolding and subsequent beheading. It seems I never posted a good pic of this coin, so here it is...
Sorry dude ... I couldn't resist the opportunity to post my only Nabataean example one more time ... NABATAEAN, ARETAS IV & SHUQAILAT, AE17 9BC – 40 AD Diameter: 17 mm Weight: 4.11 grams Obverse: jugate busts of Aretas IV & Shuqailat Reverse: Crossed Cornucopias, Petra Reference: SNG Part 6 #1438 => Easter-on, my friend!!
