History of the Artifact
These small bronze coins were issued by the Nabataean Kingdom, the wealthy Arab state that controlled important caravan routes between Arabia and the Mediterranean before its annexation by Rome in AD 106. The kingdom is most famous for its capital at Petra, whose monumental rock-cut architecture was financed in part by the lucrative incense and spice trade. Nabataean rulers began placing royal portraits on their coinage by the first century BC, while small bronze denominations became the most common currency used within the kingdom.
Nabataean bronzes have a distinctive regional style, with stylized royal portraits and recurring symbols such as crossed cornucopias, a motif also familiar from neighboring Judean coinage. The portraits can appear unusually abstract compared with contemporary Greek and Roman coins, but this reflects a recognizable Nabataean artistic tradition rather than crude imitation. These coins provide a tangible connection to the commercial society that built Petra and prospered by controlling routes through an otherwise difficult desert landscape, before the kingdom was absorbed into the Roman Empire as the province of Arabia Petraea.
How do I know these are original Nabataean Coins?
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Your order will include:
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Nabataean Coin as shown in photos
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Elegant protective case for preservation and display of your artifact
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Certificate of Authenticity
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