★ Intriguing Double-Strike ★

NABATAEA. Petra. Aretas IV, with Shaqilat, 9 BC-AD 40. (Bronze, 16 mm, 2.75 g, 12 h), circa 26-40. Jugate and laureate busts right of Aretas with v-shaped head decoration and a moustache, and Shuqailat with crown of Isis. Rev. Two crossed cornucopiae, between the horns, in three lines Aretas Shuqailat in Nabataean. Barkay 186. CN 186. Meshorer, Nabataea 114. Double-struck, reverse shows slight brockage, otherwise, very fine.

From an American collection.

A truly artistic double strike. This may be the most artistic we've seen. When one flips this coin they can observe that the obverse has a total of 4 heads. Regardless of which way the coin is flipped it parallels itself perfectly to display the same intended image. It appears whoever was tasked with striking this coin took the liberty to make a work of art. This form of artistry has been observed on other coins struck in the Near East during this era.