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Pseudo-Autonomous AE Unit Palmyra AD 150-250
Obverse: No legend, draped and turreted bust of Atargatis right, * (star) in right field
Reverse: No legend, radiate and draped bust of unnamed solar deity left (likely Malakbel or Yarhibol)
Kryzyzanowska Type IV/SNG Munich 519
12.2mm, 1.43g
**AN INCREDIBLY RARE COIN FEATURING ATARGATIS**
An incredibly rare issue from the famous, or infamous, caravan city of Palmyra featuring the goddess Atargatis, who was the chief fertility and water goddess of northern Syria; depicted as a MERMAID, she was known to the Greeks and Romans simply as ‘Dea Syria’ quite literally the ‘Syrian Goddess’, such was her importance to the local people; the reverse features a radiate crowned bust of ‘an unknown or unnamed solar deity’ according to all the reference and sale archives; however, research shows the solar deity to be either Malakbel or Yarhibol, both gods being depicted with a halo or crown of sunrays (radiate), though Malakbel seems to be the more likely candidate; Malakbel translates to ‘messenger of Baal’ whereas Yarhibol seems to have been a LUNAR god originally, Malakbel being the more important of the two as well
The Romans had a knack for importing gods and goddesses back to the Eternal City and making them their own, as had done since the Regal Period hundreds of years before; Atargatis became Selene or rather was associated with Selene in Rome, which Malakbel seems to have morphed into or become associated with a Sol Invictvs, or one of his attributes
Interestingly, I have had this coin in my collection for roughly half a decade, give or take, and was purchased as a \'Migration Period Ae Nummus\' with an attribution to the Vandals or Ostrogoths; I did not research it and assumed the dealer from whom I purchased (who I will not name) had it correct, when obviously it was not; granted, this coin DOES have the look of a late 4th to 5th Century type issued by both the Vandals, Ostrogoths and other Western successors, especially the bust of Atargatis, which looks nearly identical to an issue of Theodoric from Ravenna; the radiate portrait of Malakbel also has parallels with issues minted by the Vandals in Carthage, thus it is easy to see how one can make a mistake
It is of VITAL importance to do your own research on a coin and not take the dealer or sellers word for it; I\'m sure there are errors in some of my listings, despite the time and care I take in researching each coin beforehand, we are all human after all!
It would seem that there has recently been an uptick in the availability of this type, with nearly 2 dozen low grade example sold by Sol Numismatik over the last couple of years; CNG has recently sold a few higher quality specimens such as this one, the latest in Electronic sale 605, Lot 534, 3/04/2026, for over $200, which is a much lower quality specimen than the one we have on offer!
All coins are authentic and from my own personal collection. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.
Over the coming weeks I will be adding more fixed price listings of Late Roman Bronze Coins so please check back with me.
If there is any specific type you are looking for let me know. I have an extensive Late Antique collection with AE and some AR issues dating from the mid 3rd Century AD to the 8th Century AD
I strive to make accurate impressions of the coins I list, thus my listings tend to have a multitude of photos, taken under different light sources and from different angles, as there is nothing worse (in my opinion) than purchasing a coin and having it arrive looking nothing like the photo!
Thank You
