don't like this thread? blame John Anthony

him and his nabateans! i finally broke down and had to buy one for myself.





Aretas IV
9 BC -40 AD
O: Laureate head of Aretas, H (heth?) left
R: Crossed cornucopias

14 mm
2.5g

there appears to be some symbols above the cornucopias, but i can't make them out. maybe soemthing indicating tis was issued under Phasael and Aretas IV?

this coin was the least cheapest vcoins purchase i've ever made, 1.00 USD!
i picked up these two to round out the 25 bucks i had to spend. thought i'd get two more nabateas of different types and combine the shipping cost.





Malichus II
40 - 70 A.D.
O: jugate laureate and draped bust of Malichus II and Shuqailat II right
R: two cornucopias, crossed and filleted, Aramaic legend, "Malichus / Shuqai/lat" in two lines above and one below cornucopia
SNG ANS 1444?
16x12 mm
3.1g

and last but not least...




Aretas IV
9 B.C. - 40 A.D.

O: Aretas stands front in military dress, looking left, spear in right, left on pommel of sword in scabbard, Aramaic monogram (H) upper right, palm left

R:Shuqailat standing left, veiled, wearing long chiton, right hand raised, Aramaic legend, wreath left, Aramaic legend "Shuqa/ila/t"

SNG ANS 1435?
16 mm
2.7 g

please comment JA, since this is all your fault.

 

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Nope, don't like it. Take me to your leader.

I like the third one, looks cool.

 

I like all three Chris, jw price, JA coins, you can blame a whole bunch of folks.. i'm with Aidan, i like number three the best.

 

Nice scores chrsmat. I have yet to own any of those and yet they ain't very expensive, most of them anyways.

 

Some of the small bronzes of Aretas IV were issued to commemorate the birth of his son Phasael. Those have certain letters between the cornucopias. I think coin 1 could be cleaned a bit to show more of the detail, then perhaps we could see the monogram on the reverse. The bust is actually excellent for the type - it just needs a little crud removed.

The larger coin of Malichus II is also a good choice because the king's name is clearly spelled out on the top of the reverse: mem, lamedh, kaph, yod, read right-to-left.

The last coin commemorates the marriage of Aretas IV to Shuqailiat. These are some of the most distinctive small Nabataean bronzes. I posted a thread about them some time ago, here. In that thread I quoted Meshorer's analysis, which is worth a read.

 

Man, I RUE THE DAY I introduced the man to Nabatean coins, Yakov Meshorer, et al. CoinTalk has suffered because of my error........

Just kidding JA. I think its cool how you've found your niche and went for it. I love reading about these coins. I have always "liked" them, just not as passionately as you do.

 

The beauty of collecting ancient coins is that even an amateur, like myself, can make a respectable contribution to the science of numismatics.

 

Seems everyone wants to blame John. I blame him too for bringing me to this 'dark side' of the forum.

And that Steve (what's his name?) fellow too. You know, the guy with the occasional Maple Leave on the rear (bikini clad) avatar fellow.....

 

Yah, I fell for that Snake-oil Salesman's line o' bull as well ... ummm, but I was only stupid enough to buy "1" example, not three of the bloody things (what happens in your head, chrsmat?!!)



... just jokes, my friend (congrats on the new triplets)

=> here is my sole example (Aretas IV)

 

I think John must have done some long-distance Jedi mind trick on me and made me buy this bronze of Aretas IV:

 

Out of curiosity I bought a small lot of Nabataeans a year or so ago-- and still haven't really studied or photographed all of them . At the time I just wanted any Nabataean coins. Now with JA's continued displays and website, I am searching for more interesting and/or higher quality examples.

Here are three from that lot.


Aretas IV with Shuquailat


Rabbel II and (Gamilat?)


Aretas IV, commemorating his marriage to Shuquailat

 

Here is a short clip of John Anthony in action ... "mind over matter"

 

Whoever is the blame for all of this (JA and/or M-man), i found these coins to be a lot more interesting and desirable after reading John's Nabatean links...

I really like all posted---especially since 'someone' made it so easy to put a bit of history and info behind each coin.

 

I was giving John crap, I take no "blame" whatsoever. John came in, saw what was interesting to him, and ran with it. I really enjoy seeing him progress on these coins and reading his further discoveries. My problem is I am interested in so many types of coins, (and am busy in life), I just do not have the time to pursue a specific series. Maybe when the boys are older and I retire.

 

Thanks guys...now I absolutely have to by a Nabatean coin...JA get out of my head! I know it's you and you are violating my brain space.

 

I approve of this thread.

 

Hi,
A nice and interesting coin.
Even more so since King Aretas is mentioned in the Bible making it a Biblical Coin - see 2 Corinthians 11:32 "When I was in Damascus, the ethnarch of King Aretas put guards round the city to catch me" (read the Bible for the end to this suspenseful story).
To me it adds to the story of the coin.

All the best,
Col

 

Welcome Col Davidson. Are you former military?

 

hi col, i dig those giant coins you posted in the world coin forum...welcome to the dark side of cointalk.

i just looked up that passage the other day when i picked up this coin.

i wont spoil how it ends.

 

Hi Bing,
No - that's Colonel Davidson from Stargate.
I collect Primitive Moneys, Biblical coins and some specific foreign areas.
I find especially interesting any "Coins With A Story".
All the beat,
Col