Catalog
Didrachm - Obodas III and Hagaru I
| Issuer | Nabataean Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Year | 28 BC - 27 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | An eagle with closed wings stands facing left, rendered in high relief with detailed feathering on the wings and tail. The bird occupies the central field of the coin, flanked on both sides by a Nabataean inscription reading in two columns. The entire design is enclosed within a beaded border. The eagle, a common Nabataean dynastic symbol, is depicted with its head turned slightly, conveying a sense of heraldic dignity consistent with royal Nabataean coinage of the period. |
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| Mintage | ND (28 BC - 27 BC) - RY 3 |
| Additional information |
Obodas III ruled the Nabataean Kingdom as something of a cipher — ancient sources, particularly Strabo, describe him as indolent and disengaged from governance, leaving real power to his minister Syllaeus. This coin's joint issue with Hagaru I reflects the Nabataean practice of honoring the queen consort on coinage, a dynastic tradition that distinguished their monetary output from contemporary Hellenistic neighbors. Obodas died in 9 BC under suspicious circumstances, with Syllaeus widely suspected; the Romans ultimately executed Syllaeus for it.