| Coins of Medieval Africa |  |
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| Homo Erectus, Rift Valley, Ethiopia, Stone Hand Axe, 1 Million - 400,000 B.C. |   | Found in the Rift Valley, Ethiopia in the 1970's. From the collection of Alex G. Malloy, former dealer in antiquities for 40 years. |
| AA35451. Homo Erectus, stone hand axe; cf. Johnson & Shreve pp. 148-150, cf. Malloy, Weapons #2; 5" x 3 1/2", Choice, beige-grey rough lava, finely worked to biface shape; heavy gray patina; SOLD |
| Aksumite Kingdom (Axum), Ebana, c. 5th century A.D. |  | Munro-Hay lists two types for Ebana, one with the reverse legend reading Ebana (type 71) and the other reading Ezana (type 72). Three variants are listed for type 72. Type 72ii is described as, "a further rare variant, reads 'Ezana', with the letter Z in the form of a crooked N." The reverse legend on this coin starts after the cross at 3:00 and ends CN/\H/\.
Monro-Hay al-Madhariba p. 94, notes all Ezana reverse legend examples in the hoard were from a single die. |
| SH28942. Gold unit, Munro-Hay type 72ii; Munro-Hay al-Madhariba p. 94, describes Ezana with cross bar on wheat stalk (al-M. 2); BMC Aksumite -, F, flan defect, rough cleaning, weight 1.583 g, maximum diameter 15.7 mm, die axis 0o, obverse +CIN+CLX+LCL+CLC (reversed, blundered Greek, interpretation uncertain), crowned and draped half-length bust of king right between two wheat stalks, wheat stalk with cross-bar or wheat stalk with short cruciform scepter in right; reverse +CLC+LCL+CCN+LHL (blundered Greek, King Ezana), draped half-length bust of king right between two wheat stalks, wearing head cloth, wheat stalk and fly-whisk? in right; cleaning scratches; rare; SOLD |
| Aksumite Kingdom (Axum), Ebana, c. 5th century A.D. |  | The P type mint mark (South Arabian letter S) on the obverse was first identified by a single example in al-Madhariba hoard, published in 1989. The coins of Ebana with mint marks appear to be the earlier issues.
On this coin the A's in the legend include crossbars (v shaped), which are missing on most Ebana coinage. This perhaps indicates this coin is from one of his very earlest issues. |
| SH28943. Gold unit, Munro-Hay al-Madhariba 288; Munro-Hay type 71, A97-99; BMC Aksumite -, gF, weight 1.592 g, maximum diameter 16.6 mm, die axis 0o, obverse +CIN+CAX+AZA+CAC (blundered Greek, interpretation uncertain), crowned and draped half-length bust of king right between two wheat stalks, wheat stalk and fly-whisk? in right, dot and P above head; reverse +BAC+ACA+CCB+ANA (blundered Greek, King Ebana), draped half-length bust of king right between two wheat stalks, wearing head cloth, wheat stalk and fly-whisk in right, dot above head; rare mintmark; SOLD |
| Aksumite Kingdom (Axum), Ebana, c. 5th century A.D. |  | The gold coins of Ebana are probably "tremisses" based on weight.
The legends of Ebana's coins are debased Greek, with a random starting point, often reversed or upside down and with L for A, H for N, and C for B and E. |
| SH28939. Gold unit, Munro-Hay type 71, JJ 65; BMC Aksumite 306, aVF, weight 1.573 g, maximum diameter 17.4 mm, die axis 0o, obverse +CIN+CLX+LCL+CLC (blundered Greek, interpretation uncertain), crowned and draped half-length bust of king right between two wheat stalks, short scepter in right; reverse +BLC+LCL+CCC+LNL (blundered Greek, King Ebana), draped half-length bust of king right between two wheat stalks, wearing head cloth, fly-whisk in right; SOLD |
| Aksumite Kingdom (Axum), Ebana, c. 5th century A.D. |  | The gold coins of Ebana are probably "tremisses" based on weight.
The legends of Ebana's coins are debased Greek, with a random starting point, often reversed or upside down and with L for A, H for N, and C for B and E. |
| SH28941. Gold unit, Munro-Hay type 71, JJ 65; BMC Aksumite 304, aVF, weight 1.527 g, maximum diameter 16.6 mm, die axis 0o, obverse +CIN+CLX+LCL+CLC (blundered Greek, interpretation uncertain), crowned and draped half-length bust of king right between two wheat stalks, short scepter in right; reverse +BLC+LCL+CCB+LNL (blundered Greek, King Ebana), draped half-length bust of king right between two wheat stalks, wearing head cloth, fly-whisk in right; SOLD |
| Aksumite Kingdom (Axum), Ebana, mid 5th century A.D. |  | The rare obverse legend variation beginning CVN was used on two obverse dies.
The cross type mint mark on the obverse was first identified in the al-Madhariba hoard, published in 1989. The coins of Ebana with mint marks appear to be the earlier issues.
The legends of Ebana's coins are debased Greek, with a random starting point, often reversed or upside down and with L for A, H for N, and C for B and E. |
| SH28938. Gold unit, Munro-Hay type 71, JJ 377 (same dies?, with CVN... obverse variation); Munro-Hay al-Madhariba 355 - 359; BMC Aksumite -, VF, weight 1.556 g, maximum diameter 16.8 mm, die axis 0o, obverse +CVN+CLX+LCL+CLC (blundered Greek, interpretation uncertain), crowned and draped half-length bust of king right between two wheat stalks, holding wheat stalk in right, small cross above head; reverse +BAC+LCL+CCC+LHL (blundered Greek, King Ebana), draped half-length bust of king right between two wheat stalks, wearing head cloth, holding wheat stalk in right; SOLD |
| Aksumite Kingdom (Axum), Ebana, c. 5th century A.D. |  | The disc and crescent type mint mark on the obverse was first identified in the al-Madhariba hoard, published in 1989. The coins of Ebana with mint marks appear to be the earlier issues.
In references, the mark over the king's head on the reverse is described as a dot. On this example it appears to be a star or cross. |
| SH28940. Gold unit, Munro-Hay al-Madhariba 249 - 257; Munro-Hay type 71; BMC Aksumite -, F, weight 1.554 g, maximum diameter 16.2 mm, die axis 0o, obverse +CIN+CLX+LCL+CLC (blundered Greek, interpretation uncertain), crowned and draped half-length bust of king right between two wheat stalks, short scepter in right, disk and crescent above head; reverse +BAC+LCL+CCB+LIL (or similar, blundered Greek, King Ebana), draped half-length bust of king right between two wheat stalks, wearing head cloth, fly-whisk in right, star or cross above head; SOLD |
| Non-Imperial Coinages in Africa, "Domino Nostro," c. 5th Century A.D. |  | This type has been attributed to the time of Johannes and Boniface in Carthage 423 - 425 A.D., but strong evidence is lacking. We may more safely assume the series is later and copying official issues. The star is probably a crude Christogram or degenerated cross. |
| ME26375. Bronze AE 4, RIC X 3815, F, weight 0.511 g, maximum diameter 19.5 mm, Carthage? mint, obverse [DOMINIS NOSTRIS], diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right; reverse star in wreath; very rare; SOLD |
| Crusaders, Kingdom of Jerusalem, John of Brienne, 1210 - 1225 |  | From the collection of Alex G. Malloy, former dealer for 40 years and co-author of "Coins of the Crusader States." Ex A.J. Seltman Collection.
John of Brienne (c. 1170 ? 27 March 1237) was a French nobleman who became King of Jerusalem by marriage, and was later invited to become Latin Emperor of Constantinople.
Damietta, Egypt, about two miles from the sea on the Nile river, fell to John after a siege lasting from May 1218 to November 1219. Success was followed by plundering and the reconsecration of the principal mosque as a cathedral. But the city was held only until late summer 1221, when it was surrendered to the Sultan after a crushing defeat. |
| SH32097. Billon denier, Malloy Crusaders 43; Schlumberger pl. III, 31, aVF, weight 0.683 g, maximum diameter 17.0 mm, die axis 180o, Egypt, Damietta? mint, c. Nov 1219 - Aug 1221; obverse IOhES : REX :, cross pattée, annulets in upper right and lower left quarters, triple pellet stops; reverse DAMIATA, head facing with curly hair, wearing crown ornamented with three pellets; a fragment of a second coin is stuck on the obverse (only a very brave soul would try to remove it!); very rare; SOLD |
| Aksumite Kingdom (Axum), Armah, Early 7th century A.D. |  | This type was likely the last coinage issued by the Aksumite Kingdom. Due to climate change and trade isolation, Aksum began to decline in the 7th century. Local history holds that a Jewish queen named Yodit (Judith or Gudit) defeated the empire, c. 950 A.D., and burned its churches and literature. There is evidence of an invasion and churches being burned around this time, but her existence is questioned by some modern authors. |
| GB28095. Bronze AE 13, Munro-Hay 153; BMC Aksum p. 46, 571 ff.; Anzani 260, F/VF, nice patina, weight 1.319 g, maximum diameter 19.3 mm, die axis 0o, Aksum mint, obverse Ge'ez legend, "King Armah", full-length crowned king enthroned right; reverse Ge'ez legend, "Let there be joy to the people", cross with with gold inlay at center, supported by stem attached to a ring, flanked by two wheat-stalks emerging from the stem; ex Colosseum Coin Exchange; SOLD |
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