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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;John Anthony, post: 2034726, member: 42773&quot;]I&#039;m very excited to share this new acquisition(!), an imitative owl of South Arabia from the 4th-century BC. These coins are <u>extremely</u> rare, even in poor grades, and this example is quite respectable.</p><p><br /></p><p>This coin comes from the Biblical land of Sheba, comprised of several small kingdoms: Aksum, Himyar, Qataban, Saba&#039;, and Hadhramaut.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]370695[/ATTACH]</p><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qataban" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qataban" rel="nofollow">Source</a></p><p><br /></p><p>These small kingdoms became quite wealthy in antiquity, owing to the export of rare spices indigenous to the area, i.e. frankincense and myrrh.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]370696[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Southern Arabia, Qataban, Unknown ruler(s).</b></p><p>AR Hemidrachm, 1.98g, 11mm, 9h. Timna, circa 350-320/00 BC.</p><p><i>Obv.:</i> Head of Athena right, Γ on cheek, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor.</p><p><i>Rev.:</i> Owl standing right, head facing; [olive sprig] and crescent behind, Royal Qatabanian monogram, composed of South Arabian letters h and l, and ÅQE to right. Reference: Munro-Hay p. 71, 1.0aii, pl. 48, 30-32; HGC 10, 711.</p><p><br /></p><p>These are the earliest known coins from South Arabia, originally attributed to the Sabaeans, but reassigned to Qataban by Munro-Hay. It is likely, however, that they crossed borders in trade. Although they are closely modeled after their Athenian progenitors, they possess some distinctly Arabian features, Athena&#039;s large nose being the most conspicuous. The Γ on her cheek denotes denomination, while the Old Southern Arabic letters on the reverse comprise a royal monogram. These monograms are yet to be deciphered.</p><p><br /></p><p>Now I know at least a couple of you CTers have some handsome Himyarite drachms, so let&#039;s see them. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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