I weighed this bronze coin before soaking it in distilled water. That's 22.42 g. I remember having a nearly similar one, in form of a silver denarius. The coin was struck under Trajan, having Arabia standing on reverse with naked legs, and a camel standing at her feet. She's holding some plants of cinnamon with her right hand. Arab.Adovis in exergue ? Glad to read any comment. Thanks..
A very promising example of an interesting type – I'm looking forward to see it after cleaning! I've got this very pedestrian Arabia denarius in my collection. Under other circumstances, I'd probably be looking for an upgrade, but since this one actually was my very first Roman silver coin, it stays. Trajan, Roman Empire, denarius, 103–111 AD, Rome mint. Obv: [IMP TRAI]ANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P; bust of Trajan, laureate, r. Rev: CO[S V P P S P Q ]R OPTIMO PRINC, Arabia standing l., holding branch in r. hand and a bundle of cinnamon sticks in l., camel at feet to l. 17mm, 3.07g. Ref: RIC II Trajan 142 (denarius).
@7Calbrey: The legend in exergue is ARAB ADQVIS (Arabia Adquisita, Arabia Acquired.) I have this reverse type on an as and on a denarius:
Various interesting coins. I was wondering if my coin was struck at Petra, Bostra or Cappadocia, so that I could look for the proper attribution.
That is a nice sestertius from Rome. The denarii come with and without the ARAB ADQ in exergue. There are also Eastern drachms which I do not have but someone here does as I recall. The standard reading is ARAB ADQVIS (Arabia Adquisita). Your photo is washed out eating the S but the rest is clear. Clean with care. It is a worthy coin.
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=ARAB ADQVIS S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI S C The link above identifies the branch as frankincense. I don't know which is correct but frankincense seems more timely a choice this week anyway.
Cool coin @7Calbrey ! I have no nekkid Arabia with a camel slinking out from behind. I just have a camel. RI Trajan CE 98-117 AR drachm Struck CE 114-116 Arabia Petraea Bostra - Camel SNG ANS 1158
Trajan Ar Denarius RIC 142var Woytek 285c Obv Bust of Trajan right laureate Aegis on far shoulder Rv. Arabia standing left To left camel. 110 A.D. 3.41 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen
..neat sestertius Charles! ...John Anthony and i have the silver Trajan Nabatean overstrike Rabble ll coin ..
That is a very nice coin, below you can find the denarius i have. According to some sources, Arabia holds either cinnamon, a branch or canes. I don't know what the latter means, but according to google translate they are walking sticks...? That is a very nice collection of camels!!
My only Trajan with Arabia and a camel: Trajan, AD 98-117. Roman AR denarius, 3.35 g, 18.3 mm, 7 h. Rome, AD 103-111. Obv: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P, laureate bust, right, with drapery on left shoulder. Rev: COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC, Arabia, draped, standing left, holding branch in right hand over camel walking left before her and a bundle of canes (?) in left hand. Refs: RIC 142; BMCRE 297-299; Cohen 89; Sear --; ERIC II 400.
My example of the type is one of my top favorite coins, and IMO maybe the second finest portrait on any of my Romans The different theories about the branch are interesting. I had always assumed it to be an olive branch to symbolize that Nabataea joined the Empire willingly and without bloodshed when Rabbel II died without an heir.
Very plausible. I also thought that Trajan issued this imperial coin in Rome to celebrate his victory over Arabia (Petraea) being acquired (Aquisita), that is captured or occupied to join the Roman Empire.
