ARABIA, Southern. Qataban. before 150 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 12 mm, 2.07 g, 9 h), imitating Athens. Male head to right, wearing diadem inscribed 𐩴𐩣𐩪𐩣 ('gms¹m' in South Arabian). Rev. AΘE Owl standing right, head facing; to left, olive sprig and monogram; to right, Royal Qatabanian monogram. Huth 357. Munro-Hay 1.8aii. Very rare and unusually well preserved. Light deposits, otherwise, good very fine.


This intriguing piece sets itself apart from other Qatabanian coins by having an inscription on the diadem telling us the denomination, namely 'one gms', which corresponds to a hemidrachm