AR Hemidrachm - Bucranium series

The Sabaean bucranium coinage is a direct imitation of Athenian "owl" tetradrachms, adapted for local use in South Arabia during the period when Athenian silver dominated long-distance trade from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean. The hemidrachm denomination served the frankincense and myrrh caravan economy — fractional silver for transactions along routes that connected the Hadramawt to Mediterranean markets. These issues were struck at a reduced Attic standard, reflecting the Sabaean kingdom's pragmatic adjustment to both local weight conventions and the demands of overland trade rather than any deference to Athenian monetary authority.