A.D. 1st Century Drachm Silver Himyarite Bull Head NGC VF

1st Century Himyarite Bull's Head Coins

The ancient Himyarite Kingdom, a confederation of Arabic tribes that lived in what is today modern Yemen on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, was a wealthy, sophisticated, relatively literate society with a rich variety of local gods and religions. A lesser known but highly fascinating ancient people, the Himyarites were one of the few Arab peoples to convert to Judaism. They were also instrumental in facilitating trade between the Indians and the Romans—a deal that made them rich thanks to the lucrative spice trade.

The Himyarites worshiped most of the South-Arabian pantheon up until the 4th century when King Malkīkarib Yuha'min adopted Judaism as the state religion. In the early 6th Century, a Christian viceroy was appointed, and by the early 7th century Islam had taken hold as Muslim civil wars broke out across the Arabian Peninsula.

Designs Influenced By The Greeks And Romans

The design on this Grean- and Roman-influenced silver Drachm seems to show the profile of a head with symbols in fields while the reverse depicts what appears to be a bull's head. Ancient money from numerous civilizations and time periods frequently featured the bull as a motif. For instance, the bull was frequently portrayed as a symbol of strength and virility in ancient Greek coinage and was linked to gods like Zeus and Apollo. These coins have been certified, graded, and authenticated by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) as being in Very Fine (VF) condition. Secure yours now!