ETHIOPIA, Kingdom of Axum, Anonymous AR, c.4th-5th century AD

Obverse : CΛX ΛCΛ or BΛX ΛBΛ (?), draped bust of king wearing scarf, with necklace and earring.
Reverse : OTYOTAPCEHTHXWPΛ (the Greek letters in the right order would be TOYTO APECH TH XWPA, May this (the Cross) please the country). Gilded cross in circle.
Munro-Hay type 50.

The Kingdom of Axum was an isolated and independent Christian kingdom in what is now Ethiopia and Eritrea that survived from the 1st century to circa the 9th century AD. They existed alongside the other empires in their day, Rome, Persia and China. At some point they conquered the Himyarite Confederacy, in what is now Yemen, and absorbed the Sabean culture. Axum maintained strong ties with the Byzantine Empire until they were cut off from that trade by the Arab conquests of the surrounding area, which caused Axum to fall into decline. The Kingdom of Axum is the proposed home of the Ark of the Covenant and the legendary home of the Queen of Sheba. The Axumite Monarchy was established based on a genealogical relationship with King Solomon of Judea and the Queen of Sheba.