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Message:: [QUOTE="John Anthony, post: 2664592, member: 42773"]The earliest drachms of Bostra were struck over Nabataean drachms, and that is what you have in your first coin. For instance, on the obverse, the Nabataean letters shin, nun, and taw can be read in the upper left corner, which did not get overstruck by the Roman dies... [ATTACH=full]591836[/ATTACH] Nabataean is read right-to-left, like Hebrew, and the word in this case is Shanat, or year. The regnal year would have come after. Compare it to a Nabataean drachm of Rabbel II from my collection where you can clearly see the same word on the obverse... [ATTACH=full]591837[/ATTACH] Nabataean Kingdom, Rabbel II (70 - 106 AD) AR Sela, 16mm, 3.45g; Petra mint, RY 22 (91/92 CE).Obv.: Laureate and draped bust of Rabbel II right; around, inscription,22 רבאל מלכא מלך - נבטו שׂנת (Rabbel the king, king of the Nabataeans, Year 22).Rev.: Veiled and draped bust of Gamilat right; around, inscription,גמלתּ אחתה מלכת נבטו (Gamilat his sister, queen of the Nabataeans).Reference: Meshorer 154 The reverse of your coin also has a few Nabataean letters - I can make out at least one nun. If you ever wish to part with that coin I implore you to contact me first. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]