Coins and Antiquities Consignment Shop
  10% Off Store-Wide Sale Until 2 April!!! All Items Purchased From Forum Ancient Coins Are Guaranteed Authentic For Eternity!!! Please Call Us If You Have Questions 252-646-1958 Expert Authentication - Accurate Descriptions - Reasonable Prices - Coins From Under $10 To Museum Quality Rarities 10% Off Store-Wide Sale Until 2 April!!! All Items Purchased From Forum Ancient Coins Are Guaranteed Authentic For Eternity!!! Internet Challenged? We Are Happy To Take Your Order Over The Phone 252-646-1958 Explore Our Website And Find Joy In The History, Numismatics, Art, Mythology, And Geography Of Coins!!!

×Catalog Main Menu
Fine Coins Showcase

Antiquities Showcase
New & Reduced


Show Empty Categories
Shop Search
Shopping Cart
My FORVM
Contact Us
About Forum
Shopping at Forum
Our Guarantee
Payment Options
Shipping Options & Fees
Privacy & Security
Forum Staff
Selling Your Coins
Identifying Your Coin
FAQs
zoom.asp
   View Categories
Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Hellenistic Monarchies| ▸ |Aksumite Kingdom||View Options:  |  |  |   

Aksumite Kingdom (Axum)

At its height, Aksum ruled most of present-day Eritrea, and parts of Ethiopia, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, and Sudan. After converting to Christianity about 330 B.C., the cross replaced the disc and crescent on coins. Due to climate change and trade isolation, Aksum began to decline in the 7th century when the last coins were issued. Aksum is now a country village in northern Ethiopia. One of the most curious aspects of Axumite coinage is the use of gilding on some of the silver and bronze coins. The amount of gold used would not be enough to significantly change the value of the coin, and the reason for this labor-intensive process remains somewhat a mystery. According to regional tradition, the Ark of the Covenant is housed in the Church of Mary of Zion at Aksum. The Ark, according to legends, was brought to Aksum by King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba's son and placed under guard. No one but the one guard priest is allowed in, thus no one can verify the Ark's existence.

Aksumite Kingdom (Axum), Armah, Early 7th Century A.D.

|Aksumite| |Kingdom|, |Aksumite| |Kingdom| |(Axum),| |Armah,| |Early| |7th| |Century| |A.D.||AE| |16|
According to tradition, the Ark of the Covenant is housed in the Church of Mary of Zion. The Ark, according to legend, was brought to Aksum by Menelik, the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. No one, but one guard priest is allowed in, thus no one can verify the Ark's existence. According to the Kebra Nagast, when Menelik, came to visit his father in Jerusalem, his father gave him a copy of the Ark, and commanded the first-born sons of the elders of his kingdom to go to Ethiopia and settle there. The sons of the elders did not want to live away from the presence of the Ark, so they switched the copy with the original and smuggled the Ark out of the country. Menelik only learned that the original was with his group during the journey home.
GB28094. Billon AE 16, BMC Aksumite p. 46, 566; Anzani 272, gF, toned, weight 1.181 g, maximum diameter 16.4 mm, die axis 0o, Aksum mint, obverse Ge'ez legend, "King Armah", half-length crowned and draped bust right, cruciform scepter in left, behind a cruciger that appears to be a wheat-stalk topped with a cross; reverse Ge'ez legend, "Mercy and Peace", cross with gold inlay on arch supported by two columns, two smaller crosses emerging from the capitals, inside the arch a key -shaped design with a circle inlaid with gold at the bottom; ex Colosseum Coin Exchange; rare; SOLD


Aksumite Kingdom (Axum), Armah, Early 7th Century A.D.

|Aksumite| |Kingdom|, |Aksumite| |Kingdom| |(Axum),| |Armah,| |Early| |7th| |Century| |A.D.||AE| |19|
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 19, Munro-Hay 153; BMC Aksumite 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


Lot of 3 Aksumite Kingdom (Aksum) Coins, c. 400 - 800 A.D.

|Aksumite| |Kingdom|, |Lot| |of| |3| |Aksumite| |Kingdom| |(Aksum)| |Coins,| |c.| |400| |-| |800| |A.D.||Lot|
Consignor identified the coins as follows (unverified by Forum):
1) Aksumite, AR dinar (Kaleb, c. 520 - 540 A.D.?), 0.53g, crowned bust right / bust right, Fine, chipped flan, rare.
2) Aksumite (Armah, early 7th century A.D.?), AE19, Fine.
3) Aksumite (Anonymous, c. 400 - 500 A.D.?), AE19, cross in wreath, Fine.
LT89284. Mixed Lot, Lot of 3 coins of the Kingdom of Aksum, c. 13.2 - 19.8 mm, no tags or flips, the lot is the actual coins in the photograph, 3 coins; SOLD


Aksumite Kingdom (Axum), MHDYS, c. 400 - 450 A.D.

|Aksumite| |Kingdom|, |Aksumite| |Kingdom| |(Axum),| |MHDYS,| |c.| |400| |-| |450| |A.D.||AE| |15|
A curious aspects of Axumite coinage is the use of gilding on some of the silver and bronze coins.

Aksum is the purported home of the Ark of the Covenant. According to regional tradition, the Ark is housed in the Church of Mary of Zion. The Ark, according to legends, was brought to Aksum by King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba's son and placed under guard. No one but the one guard priest is allowed in, thus no one can verify the Ark's existence.
GB58754. Bronze AE 15, Munro-Hay 70, BMC Aksumite 293, aVF, weight 1.005 g, maximum diameter 15.3 mm, die axis 0o, Aksum mint, c. 400 - 450 A.D.; obverse Ge'ez legend (MHDYS King of Aksum), draped bust right in head-cloth, flanked by stalks of grain, cross above; reverse Ge'ez legend (By This Cross He Will Conquer), Greek cross with gold gilding in center punch, thick inner circle border, cross above; ex Manfra, Tordella and Brooks Inc (Joseph H. Rose, 1969); SOLD


Aksumite Kingdom (Axum), Anonymous, c. 400 - 500 A.D.

|Aksumite| |Kingdom|, |Aksumite| |Kingdom| |(Axum),| |Anonymous,| |c.| |400| |-| |500| |A.D.||AE| |16|
A curious aspects of Axumite coinage is the use of gilding on some of the silver and bronze coins.

Aksum is the purported home of the Ark of the Covenant. According to regional tradition, the Ark is housed in the Church of Mary of Zion. The Ark, according to legends, was brought to Aksum by King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba's son and placed under guard. No one but the one guard priest is allowed in, thus no one can verify the Ark's existence.
GB58755. Bronze AE 16, Munro-Hay Type 76, BMC Aksumite 328, gF, weight 1.756 g, maximum diameter 16.0 mm, Aksum mint, c. 400 - 500 A.D.; obverse BAX - A-CA (blundered), half-length bust right, cross behind, holding scepter cruciger which breaks legend to the right; reverse + TOV TO APECH TH XWPA (May This [the cross] Please the Country), Greek cross with arms merging with a circle around it, gold gilding in center punch; ex Manfra, Tordella and Brooks Inc (Joseph H. Rose, 1969); SOLD


Aksumite Kingdom (Axum), Anonymous, Late 4th - Early 5th Century

|Aksumite| |Kingdom|, |Aksumite| |Kingdom| |(Axum),| |Anonymous,| |Late| |4th| |-| |Early| |5th| |Century||unit|
According to tradition, the Ark of the Covenant is housed in the Church of Mary of Zion. The Ark, according to legend, was brought to Aksum by Menelik, the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. No one, but one guard priest is allowed in, thus no one can verify the Ark's existence. According to the Kebra Nagast, when Menelik, came to visit his father in Jerusalem, his father gave him a copy of the Ark, and commanded the first-born sons of the elders of his kingdom to go to Ethiopia and settle there. The sons of the elders did not want to live away from the presence of the Ark, so they switched the copy with the original and smuggled the Ark out of the country. Menelik only learned that the original was with his group during the journey home.
GB77936. Bronze unit, Munro-Hay 52, BMC Aksumite 92 ff., Hahn Aksumite 33, aF, green patina, weight 1.158 g, maximum diameter 14.4 mm, Aksum mint, late 4th - early 5th century; obverse Greek legend: BACI-ΛEYC (King), draped bust right in head-cloth; reverse Greek legend: + TOV TO APECH TH XWPA (May this [the cross] please the country), small cross in circle; from the Butte College Foundation, ex Lindgren, from Alex G. Malloy; SOLD


Aksumite Kingdom (Axum), Anonymous, c. 400 - 500 A.D.

|Aksumite| |Kingdom|, |Aksumite| |Kingdom| |(Axum),| |Anonymous,| |c.| |400| |-| |500| |A.D.||AE| |15|
According to tradition, the Ark of the Covenant is housed in the Church of Mary of Zion. The Ark, according to legend, was brought to Aksum by Menelik, the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. No one, but one guard priest is allowed in, thus no one can verify the Ark's existence. According to the Kebra Nagast, when Menelik, came to visit his father in Jerusalem, his father gave him a copy of the Ark, and commanded the first-born sons of the elders of his kingdom to go to Ethiopia and settle there. The sons of the elders did not want to live away from the presence of the Ark, so they switched the copy with the original and smuggled the Ark out of the country. Menelik only learned that the original was with his group during the journey home.
GB58342. Bronze AE 15, Munro-Hay Type 76, BMC Aksumite 328 (same reverse die), F, weight 0.709 g, maximum diameter 14.6 mm, obverse BAX - A-CA (appearing as CΛX - Λ-XΛ), half-length bust right, cross behind, holding scepter cruciger which breaks legend to the right; reverse + TOV TO APECH TH XWPA (May This [the cross] Please the Country), Greek cross with arms merging with a circle around it, center punch hole inlaid with gold; SOLD


Aksumite Kingdom (Axum), Ousanas, c. 350 - 400 A.D.

|Aksumite| |Kingdom|, |Aksumite| |Kingdom| |(Axum),| |Ousanas,| |c.| |350| |-| |400| |A.D.||unit|
At its height, Aksum ruled most of present-day Eritrea, and parts of Ethiopia, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, and Sudan. After converting to Christianity, c. 330 B.C., the cross replaced the disk and crescent on coins. Due to climate change and trade isolation, Aksum began to decline in the 7th century when the last coins were issued. Aksum is now a country village in northern Ethiopia.
GB32239. Bronze unit, Munro-Hay 54, BMC Aksumite 245, F, some gilding, weight 1.502 g, maximum diameter 18.0 mm, die axis 345o, obverse + OVAZEBAC BACI LEYC, draped bust right in head-cloth, flanked by stalks of grain; reverse + TOV TO APECH TH XWPA (May This [the cross] Please the Country), small draped bust right in circle; the interior of the circle gilt; SOLD


Aksumite Kingdom (Axum), Anonymous, Late 4th - Early 5th Century

|Aksumite| |Kingdom|, |Aksumite| |Kingdom| |(Axum),| |Anonymous,| |Late| |4th| |-| |Early| |5th| |Century||unit|
According to tradition, the Ark of the Covenant is housed in the Church of Mary of Zion. The Ark, according to legend, was brought to Aksum by Menelik, the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. No one, but one guard priest is allowed in, thus no one can verify the Ark's existence. According to the Kebra Nagast, when Menelik, came to visit his father in Jerusalem, his father gave him a copy of the Ark, and commanded the first-born sons of the elders of his kingdom to go to Ethiopia and settle there. The sons of the elders did not want to live away from the presence of the Ark, so they switched the copy with the original and smuggled the Ark out of the country. Menelik only learned that the original was with his group during the journey home.
BB48515. Bronze unit, Munro-Hay 52, BMC Aksumite 92 ff., aF, weight 0.868 g, maximum diameter 12.9 mm, Aksum mint, late 4th - early 5th century; obverse Greek legend: BACI LEYC (King), draped bust right in head-cloth; reverse Greek legend: + TOV TO APECH TH XWPA (May This [the cross] Please the Country), small cross in circle; SOLD


Aksumite Kingdom (Axum), Anonymous, Late 4th - Early 5th Century

|Aksumite| |Kingdom|, |Aksumite| |Kingdom| |(Axum),| |Anonymous,| |Late| |4th| |-| |Early| |5th| |Century||unit|
According to tradition, the Ark of the Covenant is housed in the Church of Mary of Zion. The Ark, according to legend, was brought to Aksum by Menelik, the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. No one, but one guard priest is allowed in, thus no one can verify the Ark's existence. According to the Kebra Nagast, when Menelik, came to visit his father in Jerusalem, his father gave him a copy of the Ark, and commanded the first-born sons of the elders of his kingdom to go to Ethiopia and settle there. The sons of the elders did not want to live away from the presence of the Ark, so they switched the copy with the original and smuggled the Ark out of the country. Menelik only learned that the original was with his group during the journey home.
BB48518. Bronze unit, Munro-Hay 51, BMC Aksumite 83 ff., Fair, weight 0.631 g, maximum diameter 12.2 mm, Aksum mint, late 4th - early 5th century; obverse Greek legend: BACI LEYC (King), draped bust right in head-cloth; reverse Greek legend: + TOV TO APECH TH XWPA (May This [the cross] Please the Country), small cross in circle; SOLD




  




You are viewing a SOLD items page.
Click here to return to the page with AVAILABLE items.
The sale price for a sold item is the private information of the buyer and will not be provided.



REFERENCES|

Anzani, A. Numismatica Axumita. RIN III, Series 3, XXXIX (IV). (Milan, 1926).
Hahn, W. "Aksumite Numismatics - A critical survey of recent Research" in Revue Numismatique 2000.
Munro-Hay, S. & B. Juel-Jensen. Aksumite Coinage. (London, 1995).
Munro-Hay, S. Catalogue of the Aksumite Coins in the British Museum. (London, 1999).
Munro-Hay, S. "The al-Madhariba hoard of gold Aksumite and late Roman coins" in NC 149. (1989). pp. 83.
Vaccaro, F. "Previously serialised as 'Tipologia Numismatica Aksumita'" in Italia Numismatica, 1966-1967.

Catalog current as of Friday, March 29, 2024.
Page created in 1.25 seconds.
All coins are guaranteed for eternity