Talk to the Hand - Another Nabataean Rarity

Malichos I (59/8-30 BC) issued the first properly Nabataean coinage - that is, coinage official to the Nabataean Kingdom, struck in Petra, using Nabataean script. Previously, there had been some anonymous bronze issues modeled after the staters of Alexander III, and coins struck by Aretas III in Damascus which are viewed as a continuation of the city coinage, and nothing uniquely Nabataean.

Malichos I did not strike coinage for the first 27 years of his reign, and then we see a series of bronze and silver issues, right around the time of his military conflicts with Herod. It's conjectured that that bronze issues were struck to pay soldiers [Meshorer, 1975], while the silver coins celebrated the Nabataean victory over Herod at Kana with the assistance of Cleopatra's general Athenion [Huth 2010]. The palm-of-hand coins were the smallest of three bronze types, and I've been searching for one for some time now. They are rare enough that only one or two come up for auction per year. I wanted an example with a very clear and crisp palm...

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NABATAEA. Malichos I. 59/8-30 BC. Æ (15mm, 2.09 g, 12h).
Petra mint. Dated RY 27 (33/2 BC).
Obv.: Diademed head right.
Rev.: Palm of hand; “27” (date, in Aramaic) to across field.
Ref.: CN 14; Meshorer, Nabataea 17; HGC 10, 685 .
CNG Auction 513, Lot 217.
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This is an almost unique type among ancient coins. (There exists a Palmyrean tessera of the same design cataloged by Ingholt et al.) Patrich suggested it could symbolize Idâ-rûmâ, meaning "strong hand" or "high hand," the angel of the chief Nabataean deity Dushares. It has also been suggested that it represents the Arabic ḥamsa, a means of protection against the "evil eye," or simply a greeting from the royal house to the citizenry [Barkay, 2019].

One detail scholars have not mentioned is that the hand usually evinces a very feminine character - slender palm and long, delicate fingers. There are other Nabataean coins that feature the queen raising her right hand, showing her palm with fingers extended...

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Perhaps the palm-only coins are another iteration of the "greeting from the queen" motif...

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Really cool coin & write up, John.

 

This coin of Aretas was struck in Damascus circa 80 BC. Meshorer N6

 

Very interesting. I enjoy learning about other fields of ancient numismatics.

 

I've bought two separate lots of Nabataean coins, identified them myself and still feel totally inadequate in my understanding of them:

 

..kool coin John!

 

I love the hand imagery, that is really striking. The Nabataean kingdom has a lot of fascinating mystery about it, which is one of my favorite aspects of ancient coinage.

John

 

The last coin is not Nabataean, it is an Umayyad fals (1st half of 8th c. AD).

 

That is a very interesting coin. The meaning of the hand can have a wide range of interpretation and symbolism.

This is the only ancient that I have with the human hand as a central design on the obverse.

Roman Republic, 280-276 BC
Aes Grave, Quadrans
Rome
Obverse: Open right hand; ••• (mark of value) to left.
Reverse: Two barley grains, with ••• (mark of value) in the middle.

 

Thanks for a superb coin and writeup, @John Anthony, with some very cool other posts.
I like Nabataean a lot, and can easily second @Theodosius about how the element of mystery, both numismatic and historical, is integral to its aggregate coolness. Not unlike Aksumite and Himyarite (later, but within geographical range). I got a sweet lot of them, likely from Steven Album, but too long ago --dope-slapping time-- to have even saved the dealers' pics. But nope, no hands!
Because other worthy members are focussing on the hand motif, here's one from Medieval Land. ...Especially to @robinjojo's point about how it can have different meanings in widely varying contexts. (Very cool coin, by the way, @robinjojo.)


Champagne, archbishopric of Meaux. Gautier I, 1045-1082; denier.
Obv. Hand raised in Roman Catholic (vs. Orthodox) blessing; sleeve extending to the border. From 7 o'clock: GAITERIVS PRESV.
Rev. (from 12 o'clock; the picture slightly tilted: ) +MELDIS CIVIA.
...Since Duplessy is taking his sweet time expanding this far east in his Monnaies Feodales series, all I have for this are Boudeau (1910's) and Poey d'Avant (1860's), along with, for instance, the online archives of Cgb for feudal coins.
https://www.cgbfr.com/champagne-eveche-de-meaux-gautier-ier-denier-tb-,v22_0890,a.html

 

Now that's a cool coin I had no idea existed. Thanks for posting it!

 

Many thanks, @John Anthony. Among French ecclesiastical issues, the better known one, with another hand, is of Besancon, but it's anonymous, issued 'in the name of' St. Stephen. Right, immobilized at least into the 13th century.
But, Hang on, for the historical context, this is the best thing I've ever found. (My copy was from a library book sale; best of luck not paying stupid money for it.)
https://www.amazon.com/Arabia-Arabs...nd+arabia+and+the+arabs,stripbooks,175&sr=1-1

 

Great, purchased! Thank you for the recommendation. There are plenty of used softcover editions for cheap. I paid $11.86 shipped.

 

Seriously glad you had that kind of luck!!! :<}

 

The HAND on my coin is for modesty... he really needs a breath mint.


Iberia Castulo Late 2nd C BC AE As 25mm Bust Nose Hand Sphinx

 

Someone got to send me an old ancient(startup) book. I’ll definitely read it. At this point they mostly look like (REVERSE) Kids drawing