Featured The Herodian colony of Gaba in Trachonitis

I have owned this coin for some years, but only rephotographed it recently and I decided to research its background more thoroughly. Please post comments, other coins from this city, Sabina provincials, or anything you feel is relevant.


Sabina, AD 117-137
Roman provincial Æ 17.3 mm, 4.65 g.
Trachonitis, Gaba, AD 134-135.
Obv: ΒΑC-CΑΒЄΙΝΑ, bare-headed and draped bust right.
Rev: ΓΑΒ-ΗΝѠΝ, Zeus naked standing l., drapery hanging on his l. arm, resting on long sceptre with his r. hand, his l. on hip; in l. field, star and ΡЧΔ (city year 194 = AD 134/5).
Refs: RPC III, 3952; Rosenberger II Gaba 14; Sofaer 28 (same dies); Kindler 29.

About Gaba:

We don't know as much about the city of Gaba in Trachonitis as we would like. We're not even sure of its location in antiquity.

After the civil war between Antigonus II Mattathias and Herod in 37 BC, Herod established several military colonies settled by veterans in exchange for military service and to provide local security in the newly settled areas. Josephus notes the existence of several of these, including one at Gaba (a.k.a. Gabae), which was north of Mount Carmel (AJ 15.294),[1] due west of Nazareth, as seen on this map, below.[2]



However attractive this might be as a potential location for this mint, the numismatic evidence suggests that the Gaba that issued provincial coins during the Roman period may have been located much further to the east, in Trachonitis. A bit more historical background is necessary to understand why.

After the death of Herod the great, his kingdom was divided into a tetrarchy ruled by his three sons and his sister. One of his sons, Herod Philip II (4 BC - AD 34), inherited the northeast part of his father's kingdom, which included Iturea and Trachonitis;[3] and possibly Gaulanitis and Paneas, as was noted by Flavius Josephus.[4] After the death of Herod Philip II, the area was annexed to the Roman province of Syria. This area is east of Galilee.[5]



The Roman provincial coins of Gaba are inscribed ΚΛΑΥΔΙ ΦΙΛΙΠ ΓΑΒΗΝΩΝ or simply ΓΑΒΗΝΩΝ. The epithet ΦΙΛΙΠ suggests that the town belonged to the tetrarchy of Herod Philip II, who renamed Caesarea Panias Caesarea Phillipi. Therefore, Eckhel placed Gaba in Trachonitis or Iturea, assuming it to be identical to the Gabe of Pliny.[6] Other numismatists, such as Leake,[7] and Dane at Wildwinds[8] however, attribute the coins to the Gaba of Josephus, near the coast. We're simply unsure of its location.

~~~

1. Marshak, Adam Kolman. The Many Faces of Herod the Great. Eerdmans, 2015, p. 181-182.

2. "Map of Ancient Israel - Map of Israel in New Testament Times." Bible History Online, www.bible-history.com/geography/ancient-israel/israel-first-century.html.

3. Luke 3:1.

4. AJ 17.8.

5. Hurlbut, Jesse Lyman. Bible Atlas; a Manual of Biblical Geography and History, Especially Prepared for the Use of Teachers and Students of the Bible, and for Sunday School Instruction, Containg Maps, Plans, Review Charts, Colored Diagrams and Illustrated with Accurate Views of the Principal Cities and Localities Known to Bible History. Rand, McNally & Company, 1910, p. 100.

6. Wroth, Warwick. Catalogue of the Greek Coins of Galatia, Cappadocia, and Syria. Trustees of the British Museum, 1899, p. lxxxii - lxxxiii.

7. Wroth, ibid, p. lxxxiii note *.

8. Palestine, Gaba - Ancient Greek Coins - WildWinds.com, www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/palestine/gaba/i.html.

 

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Thanks for the interesting article and featured coin @Roman Collector !

 

Academic and interesting approach of an ancient event on both historical and geographical levels. The nearest item that I own is a coin which was said to have been struck by Antigonous Mattathias while being besieged in Jerusalem by king Herod who was apparently backed by the Romans themselves. The following rare coin is very probably a modern imitation.