DOI Artikel:
Cieciela̢g, Jerzy: Coins of Aretas IV, king of Nabataeans (9 BC - AD 40)
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21230#0105
bataean kings was only undertaken by Ya'akov Meshorer, who based his
study primarily on his own investigations.7 After him there has been only
one smali work on Nabataean numismatics and chronology published by
A. Negev.8 Of necessity, then, the present article will be based primarily
on the work of Meshorer, though the present author does not share all
Meshorer's views.9
In Nabataean numismatics, the most important position is surely oc-
cupied by the coins of Aretas IV (9 BC-AD 40). During his reign the
Nabataean kingdom reached the apogee of its cultural, social, and poli-
tical development. The number of coins struck is a highly characteristic
feature. Eight out of ten extant Nabataean coins were struck under Are-
tas IV.10 No less important is the fact that, due to his widespread econo-
mic contacts, his coins and inscriptions have been found in various parts
of the ancient world.11
The source accounts regarding Aretas IV are relatively numerous.
His accession to the throne was preceded by a struggle with Syllaeus, the
influential minister of Obodas III (30-9 BC). This extremely powerful
indMdual was able to obtain the favour of the emperor Augustus, who
7 Y. Meshorer, Nabataean Coins (Jerusalem 1975). It should be recalled that two articles
were published earlier regarding the new monetary fmds: E. S. G. Robinson, "Coins from
Petra", etc., Numismatic Chronicie XVI (1936), 288-291, PI. XVII;J. T. Milik and H. Seyrig,
"Tresor monetaires deMurabba'at", Revue Numismatiąue I (1958), 11-22, Pis. I-III.
8 A. Negev, "Numismatics andNabataea Chronology", Palestine Exploration Quarterly 114
(1982), 119-128. Recently were published articles by A. Kushnir-Stein and H. Gitrler, Numi-
smatic Evidence from Tel Beer-Sheva and the Beginning of Nabatean Coinage, Israel Numismatic
Journal 12 (1992-93), pp. 13-20; J. M. C. Bowsher, Early Nabatean Coinage, ARAM (Society
for Syro-Mesopotamian Studies), 2 (1990), pp. 221-228; K. Schmitt-Korte, Nabataean Coina-
ge - Part II. New Coin Types and Vańants, Numismatic Chronicie, 150, 1990, pp. 105-133;
K. Schmitt-Korte, M. Price, Nabatean Coinage - Part III. The Nabatean Monetary System, Numi-
smatic Chronicie, 154 (1994), pp. 67-131.
9 I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to Dr. Marek
Wilczyński of the Institute of History at the Pedagogical University in Cracow for his help in
the work on the present article.
10 Y. Meshorer, op. cit, p. 41.
11 Nabataean coins of Aretas IV were found during excavations at Curium on Cyprus
(see D. H. Cox, "Coins from the Excavations at Curium, 1932-1953", Numismatic Notes and
Monographs 145 [1959], p. 26, no. 202), at Dura-Europos (see A. R. Bellinger, TheExcava-
tions at Dura-Europos. FinalReport VI: The Coins (New Haven 1949), p. 10, no. 166, 167), and in
Susa and Iran (see Ghirsman and Sailes, Memoires de la mission archeologiąue en Iran, XXXVIII,
Mission de Susiane (Paris 1965), p. 202, no. 499.
105
study primarily on his own investigations.7 After him there has been only
one smali work on Nabataean numismatics and chronology published by
A. Negev.8 Of necessity, then, the present article will be based primarily
on the work of Meshorer, though the present author does not share all
Meshorer's views.9
In Nabataean numismatics, the most important position is surely oc-
cupied by the coins of Aretas IV (9 BC-AD 40). During his reign the
Nabataean kingdom reached the apogee of its cultural, social, and poli-
tical development. The number of coins struck is a highly characteristic
feature. Eight out of ten extant Nabataean coins were struck under Are-
tas IV.10 No less important is the fact that, due to his widespread econo-
mic contacts, his coins and inscriptions have been found in various parts
of the ancient world.11
The source accounts regarding Aretas IV are relatively numerous.
His accession to the throne was preceded by a struggle with Syllaeus, the
influential minister of Obodas III (30-9 BC). This extremely powerful
indMdual was able to obtain the favour of the emperor Augustus, who
7 Y. Meshorer, Nabataean Coins (Jerusalem 1975). It should be recalled that two articles
were published earlier regarding the new monetary fmds: E. S. G. Robinson, "Coins from
Petra", etc., Numismatic Chronicie XVI (1936), 288-291, PI. XVII;J. T. Milik and H. Seyrig,
"Tresor monetaires deMurabba'at", Revue Numismatiąue I (1958), 11-22, Pis. I-III.
8 A. Negev, "Numismatics andNabataea Chronology", Palestine Exploration Quarterly 114
(1982), 119-128. Recently were published articles by A. Kushnir-Stein and H. Gitrler, Numi-
smatic Evidence from Tel Beer-Sheva and the Beginning of Nabatean Coinage, Israel Numismatic
Journal 12 (1992-93), pp. 13-20; J. M. C. Bowsher, Early Nabatean Coinage, ARAM (Society
for Syro-Mesopotamian Studies), 2 (1990), pp. 221-228; K. Schmitt-Korte, Nabataean Coina-
ge - Part II. New Coin Types and Vańants, Numismatic Chronicie, 150, 1990, pp. 105-133;
K. Schmitt-Korte, M. Price, Nabatean Coinage - Part III. The Nabatean Monetary System, Numi-
smatic Chronicie, 154 (1994), pp. 67-131.
9 I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to Dr. Marek
Wilczyński of the Institute of History at the Pedagogical University in Cracow for his help in
the work on the present article.
10 Y. Meshorer, op. cit, p. 41.
11 Nabataean coins of Aretas IV were found during excavations at Curium on Cyprus
(see D. H. Cox, "Coins from the Excavations at Curium, 1932-1953", Numismatic Notes and
Monographs 145 [1959], p. 26, no. 202), at Dura-Europos (see A. R. Bellinger, TheExcava-
tions at Dura-Europos. FinalReport VI: The Coins (New Haven 1949), p. 10, no. 166, 167), and in
Susa and Iran (see Ghirsman and Sailes, Memoires de la mission archeologiąue en Iran, XXXVIII,
Mission de Susiane (Paris 1965), p. 202, no. 499.
105