ARABIA, Eastern. Oman Peninsula. Mleiha (?). Abi’el, daughter of Nashil, circa mid 2nd century BCE. Tetradrachm (Silver, 28 mm, 16.36 g, 5 h), imitating Alexander 'the Great' (336-323 BCE). Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. 𐡀𐡁𐡂𐡀𐡋𐡁𐡓𐡕𐡍𐡔𐡂 ('’by’l brt nšy(l)' in Aramaic) Male figure seated left on low throne, holding long scepter in his left hand and forepart of a horse in his right; to left, palm stem. CCK -. Huth, Al-Jawf Hoards, 229 (this coin). Rare and nicely toned. Hammered and bent as usual, and with some delamination on the obverse, otherwise, very fine.


For a discussion of the practice of hammering and bending coins, see the discussion in Huth, Al Jawf Hoards. Among the coins issued by female rulers named 'Abi’el, daughter of (Baglan, Nashil, Ma’shamas, and Labash)', those of Abi’el, daughter of Nashil, are the most common. The last letter of the patronym is missing on this die.