A minute bronze of Aretas IV, pomegranate in progress...

Here's a literally tiny addition to my type set of the small bronzes of Aretas IV. This is a scarce variety that shows a pomegranate stalk after the petals of the flower have fallen and the fruit is beginning to form.


Despite the crusty nature of this coin, it has quite a bit to recommend it, for a Nabataean. The almost complete linear border on the obverse is rare, and the reverse has good detail: the letters shin and heth, the crossed cornucopiae, and a complete stalk that even shows some separation between the stamen. It's a respectable addition to my growing type set of the minute bronzes of Aretas IV...


Pomegranates were a popular theme on various ancient coinages. They were a prominent feature on types of Pamphylia, for instance, and one also finds them frequently on Judaean coins. The most common representation is of the fully mature fruit, so the Nabataean version of the transitional stage is unusual and interesting (at least to me). Here is an image of the plant in the stage depicted on the coin: the petals have fallen after fertilization and the sepals and stamens are drying...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomegranate#mediaviewer/File:Granatapfelblüte_3.jpg

 

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Interesting detail on ancient coins. If cornucopiae are symbols of fertility, then what do pomegranates represent ? Just out of curiosity.
Charles

 

The symbolism of the pomegranate varied widely in the ancient world. The wiki article gives a good synopsis. Scroll down to Symbolism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomegranate

 

Great new addition, JA ... I'm liking the pomegranate!!

 

Nice writeup and addition, happy for you.

 

yeah...i've got to get a nabatean coin also.

eating a pomegranate is also on my list.

i have many lists.

but cool new coin JA!

 

Very nice!

 

Another cool pickup John!