Catalog
Æ15 - Aretas IV and Shaqilath
| Issuer | Nabataean Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Year | 18-20 |
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| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Aramaic |
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| Reverse description | Crossed cornucopiae (double cornucopia) depicted in the centre of the field, a common Nabataean reverse type symbolising abundance and royal prosperity. The design is rendered in the characteristic schematic style of Nabataean bronze coinage. An Aramaic inscription naming Queen Shaqilath appears in the field, identifying the co-ruler. The flan is irregular with a plain edge, and the overall strike is typical of hammered Nabataean small bronzes. |
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| Additional information |
Aretas IV ruled the Nabataean Kingdom for nearly half a century — the longest reign of any Nabataean monarch — and his coinage reflects the administrative sophistication of a state that controlled the frankincense and spice routes connecting Arabia to the Mediterranean. The pairing with Shaqilath I on this issue is politically deliberate: her prominence on royal coinage was unusual for the ancient Near East and suggests she held genuine co-regnal authority rather than ceremonial status.
The date range places this piece in the middle period of Aretas IV's reign, after the kingdom had absorbed the Hauran region and consolidated its northern territories.