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Axum - Home of the Ark of the Covenant?

At its height the Aksumite Kingdom ruled an empire that extended across Most of present-day Eritrea, northern Ethiopia, Yemen, southern Saudi Arabia northern Djibouti, and northern Sudan. After converting to Christianity, c. 330 B.C., and 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. The capital city, Aksum, is now a country village in northern Ethiopia.

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 Menelik, the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. No one but the one guard priest is allowed in, and 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.

Aksumite Kingdom (Axum), Ebana, c. 5th Century A.D.

|Aksumite| |Kingdom|, |Aksumite| |Kingdom| |(Axum),| |Ebana,| |c.| |5th| |Century| |A.D.||unit|
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 Λ 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+CΛX+ΛCΛ+CΛC (blundered Greek, interpretation uncertain), crowned and draped half-length bust of king right between two wheat stalks, short scepter in right; reverse +BΛC+ΛCΛ+CCC+ΛNΛ (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.

|Aksumite| |Kingdom|, |Aksumite| |Kingdom| |(Axum),| |Ebana,| |c.| |5th| |Century| |A.D.||unit|
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 Λ 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+CΛX+ΛCΛ+CΛC (blundered Greek, interpretation uncertain), crowned and draped half-length bust of king right between two wheat stalks, short scepter in right; reverse +BΛC+ΛCΛ+CCB+ΛNΛ (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.

|Aksumite| |Kingdom|, |Aksumite| |Kingdom| |(Axum),| |Ebana,| |mid| |5th| |Century| |A.D.||unit|
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 Λ 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+CΛX+ΛCΛ+CΛC (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+ΛCΛ+CCC+ΛHΛ (blundered Greek, King Ebana), draped half-length bust of king right between two wheat stalks, wearing head cloth, holding wheat stalk in right; SOLD


Axumite Kingdom, Kaleb, 520 - 540 A.D.

|Axum|, |Axumite| |Kingdom,| |Kaleb,| |520| |-| |540| |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, and thus no one can verify the Ark's existence.
GB25151. Bronze AE 15, Vaccaro 34, F, weight 0.788 g, maximum diameter 14.7 mm, Aksum mint, obverse XX[...], crowned and draped bust right; reverse HTHXW[...], cross-crosslet with X, traces of gilt center; green patina; SOLD







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