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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |North Africa| ▸ |Axum||View Options:  |  |  | 

Axum (Aksumite Kingdom)

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), 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







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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 Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
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