Coins of Arbia Felix: Himyarite Kingdom Starter Kit

Although I am more likely to buy Roman Republican coins or Parthian coins, I fell for this unusual coin. This coin from Ariabia Felix which is from the late 1st century or early second century AD.

There doesn't seem to be much info on these coins on CT, so I am starting this thread to share resources and examples of these coins. This article a nice place to start:
https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/coinweek-ancient-coin-series-ancient-coinage-of-yemen/

The alphabet picture at the link above useful for decoding the lettering:


AR Quinarius South Arabia, Himyar
Ruler: Amdān Bayān Yuhaqbiḍ
Date: Circa AD 100-120.
Mint: RYDN
Obv: Head within circular torque; monogram to left
Rev: Head right; MDN BYN ‘scepter’ to right, mint signature RYDN in exergue.
Size: 12.3mm and 1.41g
Ref: Munro-Hay 3.4i

This 2010 Article Coinage of the Caravan Kingdoms edited by Martin Huth and Peter G. van Alfen was my second stop. In which Christian Robin describes six Ḥimyarite rulers that appear on coins.

• Mubāhil dhu-Raydān (Mbhl ḏ-Rydn) (before 30 BCE)
• Shammar dhu-Raydān (c. 30 BCE)
• Karibʾīl Watār Yuhanʿim (c. 40–70 CE)
• Amdān Bayān Yahaqbiḍ (c. 100–120 CE)
• Dhamarʿalī Yuhabirr (c. 135–175 CE)
• Thaʾrān Yaʿūb Yuhanʿim (c. 175–215 CE)

The coin above is a coin of ʿAmdān Bayān Yuhaqbiḍ who struck coins in the name of either ʿAmdān Yuhaqbiḍ or ʿAmdān Bayān (ʿmdn Byn).

Although attributions describes RYDN as the mint - this note from Christian Robin's article: "On Ḥimyarite coins, the term ‘Raydān’ (Rydn), invariably placed in the exergue, denotes the Royal palace at Ẓafār. There is little probability that these Royal palaces housed the respective mints of these kingdoms: contrary to the usual practice, Raydān, Ḥarīb, and Shaqir should thus not be interpreted as mint-names."

Three other resources:
- 2011 Coinage of the Caravan Kingdoms by Martin Huth, is referenced in the article above
- 1991: The coinage of Shabwa (Hadhramawt), and other ancient south arabian coinage in the national museum, Aden S.c.h. Munro-Hay
- 2003: Coinage of Arabia Felix: The Pre-Islamic Coinage of the Yemen by Stuart Munro-Hay

Images of coins of the Himyarite Kingdom, other references to resources or corrections to the information above are appreciated.

 

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Very interesting @Sulla80 and a nice coin. Wasn't aware that this kingdom struck coins.

 

That's a neat coin, I like it too.

 

Here is a coin of Thaʾrān Yaʿūb Yuhanʿim c. 175–215 AD.


Tha'rān Ya'ūb Yuhan'im South Arabia, Himyar AR Quinarius
circa AD 175-215
Obv: Bare head right; monogram behind, all within dotted border terminated by monogram
Rev: Diademed head right; South Arabian legend: T'RN YB' (king's name) above, RYDN below, 'scepter' to right.
Ref: Munro-Hay 3.24i; Huth 449–50
Size: 11mm 1.75g

 

@Sulla80 ... Thanks for the great write-up and the great coins. I think I have the last King.

• Thaʾrān Yaʿūb Yuhanʿim (c. 175–215 CE)

I got mine from @John Anthony some time ago. Kinda same for me: I really don't collect this area, but I had to have one.



Arabia Felix, Himyarite Kings, Tha’ Ran Ya’ NB
Ar Unit (Quinarius), 14mm, 1.5g, 5h; Raidan mint, 2nd Century AD.
Obv.: Head right, within circular torque, monogram behind.
Rev.: Head right, scepter before, kings name and mint in South Arabian Script around.
Reference: Munro-Hay 3.25

John always had nice little write-ups to 'spice up' the coin...

6. Here is a small, ancient Yemeni silver coin, of the Himyarite Kingdom. The Himyarites occupied the area of Southern Arabia known to Romans as Arabia Felix. They produced the frankincense that their Arab cousins, the Nabataeans, exported to the northern world. By the time this coin was minted, however, the Romans had discovered a sea route from Alexandria to Arabia Felix, severely limiting the Nabataean overland trade. The Romans traded extensively with the ancient Yemeni, so I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that these coins are roughly the same weight and fineness of early Imperial quinarii. The script is Ancient South Arabian.

 

Great write-up! As always, there is an elementary introduction on Wildwinds. Here's mine, bought it five years ago.
Himyarites AR about 1st century AD. Obv. Man’s head with diademe to the left. Rev. Bucranium with antelope's horn and plumes. 17 mm, 2.44 gr.

 

Nice coins! I only have one, the more common Amdan Bayyin quinarius



I'm not sure if we know for certain which kingdom made them, but there is also a wide and fascinating series of South Arabian imitatons of Athenian coinage.

 

Here is mine!

 

Hello @Sulla80
Thank you for the great information & for posting the cool coins. I've got a couple: