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EASTERN ARABIA: Uncertain Region, AR obol (0.90g), ca. 1st c. BC to 1st c. AD, VF

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Ancient Coins - Arabia Start Price:120.00 USD Estimated At:150.00 - 200.00 USD
EASTERN ARABIA: Uncertain Region, AR obol (0.90g), ca. 1st c. BC to 1st c. AD, VF
SOLD
350.00USD+ buyer's premium (70.00)
This item SOLD at 2026 Sep 19 @ 11:01UTC-07:00 : PDT/MST
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BUYER'S PREMIUM - The Buyer's Premium is $20 per lot or 20% of the hammer price, whichever amount is greater.
EASTERN ARABIA: Uncertain Region, AR obol (0.90g), ca. 1st c. BC to 1st c. AD, Potts--, van Alfen--, imitation of Alexandrine type, Characene-style bearded head right, with shaggy hair or headdress // stylized Zeus seated left, holding uncertain animal (possibly head of horse right) and scepter, palm to left, a very interesting example of hybrid style, unpublished and apparently unique, VF. The reverse of this example is based on the Horse Protome type (Potts Type II), of which the silver obols have been found in Bahrain, Sharjah (Mleiha), and eastern Saudi Arabia (Thaj, Jabal Kenzan, Hofuf). This strongly suggests an eastern Arabian origin for this coin. However, the bearded bust on the obverse bears a striking resemblance to those of the Characene king Attambelos I and his successors, though the hair is somewhat shaggy and lacks the characteristic ringlets. One explanation for this intriguing stylistic mélange lies in the fact that the island of Bahrain (known as Tylos in ancient Greek) was once a possession of Characene. Ancient inscriptions attest to the existence of a strategos of Tylos during the reign of Hyspaosines (ca. 140-121 BC), as well as a local satrap in 131 AD. While there are no published coins attributed to this period, there are two known examples of a silver Alexandrine tetradrachm depicting a bearded Herakles wearing a shaggy lion skin headdress and a seated Zeus holding the forepart of a horse (one in the National Museum of Bahrain, the other Triton XX, Lot 369). It is thus possible that, while Characene itself produced no silver obols, the moneyers of Bahrain produced a small quantity based on the existing local prototype, with a redesigned bust to reflect the influence of their overlord.See CNG Auction 99, Lot 374 for a silver obol with a similar bust.