Himyarites (c. 1st century AD) Arabia Felix AR Drachm NGC XF
Himyarites (c. 1st century AD) Arabia Felix AR Drachm NGC XF
SVEGroup catalog number: COIN-30575
NGC Certified Slab
The Himyarites — Silver Coinage of Ancient Arabia Felix
This silver drachm represents the Himyarite kingdom of ancient South Arabia, a major power in the highlands and trade networks of what is now Yemen.
Coin Details
- Authority: Himyarite kingdom
- Reign and issue period: Approximately 1st century AD
- Empire/region: Arabia Felix; ancient South Arabia
- Denomination: Drachm
- Composition: AR (silver)
- NGC grade: XF — Extremely Fine
- Sheldon-scale equivalent: 40
- Quantity supplied: One encapsulated coin
The Sheldon-scale number is an equivalent associated with the stated ancient-coin grade; it is not a separate numerical grade assigned to the coin.
Himyar — Kingdom and Trade in Ancient South Arabia
Himyar emerged in southwestern Arabia and gradually became one of the region’s dominant kingdoms. Its territory stood near routes connecting the Red Sea, the Arabian interior and ports engaged in the trade of aromatics and other valuable goods.
Across later centuries, Himyar expanded its authority over neighboring South Arabian peoples and developed a complex political and religious history. This first-century coin belongs to the earlier phase of that long-lived kingdom.
What the Coin Tells Us
South Arabian silver coinage drew on older regional and Hellenistic models while developing local monograms, portraits and symbols. Those features connected the kingdom to established monetary traditions without erasing its own identity.
A silver drachm could serve both practical exchange and royal communication. Its imagery is evidence for the institutions and economic reach of a society known to the Roman world as part of Arabia Felix.
What You Will Receive
You will receive one silver drachm of the Himyarite kingdom in an NGC Ancients holder, graded XF (Extremely Fine). A specific mint, issue year, reverse design, inscription, weight or diameter is not promised unless expressly stated above.
Stock-photo notice: The photographs are representative of the product offering. The coin supplied may differ from the pictured example in portrait style, reverse design, inscriptions, centering, toning, surface appearance and other individual characteristics while remaining within the stated coin type and any expressly stated grade.