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(Full academic name: Ḥārithat Malka; Latin: Aretas IV Philopatris)
King of the Nabataean Kingdom, 9 BC – AD 40
Denomination: Bronze minor coin (AE, small local denomination)
Metal: Bronze
Diameter: 17 mm
Weight: 3.66 g
Die axis: Random
Mint: Nabataean Kingdom, probably Petra
Date: Reign of Aretas IV (late 1st century BC – early 1st century AD)
Jugate busts of two figures facing right, rendered in the schematic and stylized Nabataean artistic tradition. The figures are generally interpreted as King Aretas IV and a dynastic partner, most commonly identified as Queen Shaqilat. No surrounding legend.
At center, two crossed stylized symbols, traditionally interpreted as cornucopiae, emblematic of prosperity, abundance, and economic stability.
Above, a two-line Nabataean Aramaic inscription naming the ruler in abbreviated form.
Below, a single character corresponding to the Nabataean letter Nun (𐢍), interpreted as a control or denomination mark.
NḤW / ʾRṬ
(Abbreviated form of the name Aretas)
Fine (F) / Fine–Very Fine (F–VF)
Moderate circulation wear consistent with local bronze coinage. Major design elements visible; legend partially legible. Stable surfaces with no active corrosion.
Artificial sand patina, evenly applied, simulating archaeological burial conditions and enhancing surface contrast. No evidence of harsh modern cleaning.
According to standard academic references (Meshorer; SNG ANS; SNG Copenhagen), this type is classified as:
Common to Relatively Common
While widely represented in institutional and private collections, examples with legible legends and discernible central motifs remain desirable.
Aretas IV Philopatris was the most powerful and long-reigning Nabataean king. His reign marked the political, economic, and cultural zenith of the Nabataean Kingdom, which controlled key caravan routes linking Arabia with the Mediterranean world. Under his rule, Petra flourished as a major urban and commercial center. The coinage of this period reflects a distinctive synthesis of Hellenistic influence and indigenous Semitic tradition.