Two new coins!! Islamic Fish - Nabataean Aretas II-III

I just purchased these two coins from a dealer on Facebook who has a VCoins shop. Normally, these two coins are off of my collection grid plan but I like them quite a lot. This is my first Islamic figural coin and my first Nabataean coin as well.



Islamic Empire, Umayyad, Palestine, Anonymous (738+ AD, 120+ AH), AE Fals, Baysan mint

Obverse: محمد رسول الله , Arabic text surrounding fish pointing left, within looped square, all within linear circle border. "Muhammad is the messenger of Allah."


Reverse: لا إله إلا الله وحده , Arabic text on three lines, within looped square, all within linear circle border. "There is no God but Allah alone."

Reference: Album 165, SNAT 4a #274-276

Ex: Charachmoba Gym




Ancient Greek, Nabataean Kingdom, Arabia, Aretas II-III (c. 120+ BC), AE18, Damascus mint, 18mm, 4.1g

Obverse: No legend, Corinthian helmeted head of Athena right.

Reverse: No legend, Nike standing left holding wreath, crescent over Λ field mark left.

Reference: Meshorer 1

Ex: Charachmoba Gym

 

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Nice coins, I especially like the fish.

 

@gil.. The obverse of your coin should be turned 180 degrees clockwise. Maybe this is not a fish. Perhaps..

 

I don't believe so because you read from right to left and it starts at the top as I have it lined up. There are many at Zeno positioned the same way.

 

Neat finds

 

@7Calbrey is spot on...the picture on the left is upside-down and needs to be rotated 180 degrees.....maybe its still a fish or turtle swimming in the other direction

But somehow I doubt that because very few Islamic coins have any images of the ruler or any animate objects on them, especially way back in 120AH

 

I'm sorry but I disagree. Even some people that I know that speak Arabic has not disagreed with me.

 

Here are some examples at Zeno.ru where they are experts at Oriental, Asian and Islamic coinage.

https://www.zeno.ru/showgallery.php?cat=9027

 

I see what you mean....its a wrap-around text. That is why the earlier text is the correct way up (difficult to read from the photo) and the last line is in fact upside down.

Some of the photos at zeno.ru are clearer.

 

Yes, when you read the coin you turn it counter-clockwise, starting from the top and all the way around. It's tricky, I know.

 

My Bad

 

Yeah, I have to reshoot the coin. I just got this tripod and I've been trying to adjust my photos for it. I just got it about a couple weeks ago but only started using it a couple days ago.

 

It's no problem, my friend.