Sale: CNG 81, Lot: 630. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 20 May 2009.  Sold For $700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

NABATAEA. Obodas III. 30-9 BC. AR Drachm (4.11 g, 12h). Petra mint. Dated RY 11 (20/19 BC). Laureate head of Obodas right / Veiled and draped bust of queen right; date across field (partially visible). Meshorer, Nabataea -; Schmitt-Korte II -; CNG 78, lot 952 corr. (same obv. die). VF, find patina. Very rare.

Though missing parts of the reverse legend, this coin shares an obverse die with CNG 78, lot 952, inadvertently attributed to Malichus II. On this previous example, the name Obodas is visible, along with a clear reading of the year. The obverse die linkage would suggest that the present example is from year 11 as well. Otherwise an unknown type, the two coins represent the only known silver issues from year 11 of the reign of Obodas III.