Triton XX, Lot: 369. Estimate $1000. Sold for $2250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ARABIA, Eastern. Uncertain (between Gerrha and Mleiha?). 1st century AD. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 15.61 g, 11h). In the name of Attambelos of Characene. Bearded head of ‘Herakles’ right, wearing lion skin; monogram to right / Figure seated left, holding forepart of horse right on extended right arm, left hand holding grounded scepter to right; palm frond to left, HAΣ[...?]/ATTAΠ[...] in two lines to right. Unpublished, but for an obol associated with this issue, cf. CNG 99, lot 374 = CNG 85, lot 527. VF, toned, a few scratches under tone. Extremely rare, possibly the same type as the piece in the Bahrain museum noted in the description of the CNG 99 obol.

A highly intriguing issue combining elements of the obverse head and inscription from the Characenian ruler Attambelos (III ?), and those of earlier issues from eastern Arabia; these basic types, as well as the forepart of a horse and palm frond symbols, are typical of the coins of Mleiha (cf. Potts Class XLVI).