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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Ancientnoob, post: 2352232, member: 44140&quot;]A welcomed addition to the collection. A good coin from sub-Saharan Africa. Only the Kingdom of Axum minted coins in sub-Saharan Africa in ancient times. This kingdom minted coins in 3 metals. Gold, silver and bronze. I was fortunate enough to acquire a gem Axumite bronze a couple years ago of King Armah. I have been looking for a gold coin for less than a fortune.</p><p><img src="http://d39ya49a1fwv14.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Axum-trade-e1382762323678.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>These coins are all fairly rare and most often survive only in lower grades. There are approx. 700 known Axumite gold coins, most are from South Arabia and Yemen, while the nearly all the coppers are found in Ethiopia, suggesting that the gold coin was used as trade currency with the Byzantine Empire. Axumite gold coins have been found as far away as South India, while silver and copper coins seemed to only travel as far as Judea. The copper and silver coins were most likely carried by Christian pilgrims visiting the Holy Land. While the pieces in India are almost certainly a product of sea trade with the East.</p><p><br /></p><p>The coin I acquired is from the early Christian period. Axum was the first Christian kingdom in the world, and their coins suggest Christianity was popular and later coins enphasize the King&#039;s faith. These coins replaced the old Pagan coins, and are often differentiated by the use of Greek instead of native Ge&#039;ez, and the replacement of the crescent motif with a Christian cross.</p><p><br /></p><p>Many of the legends on these coins are only partially understood. There are numerous spellings for the same kings name, as well as places and people. These coins were generally about 1/2 the weight of the contemporary Roman Solidus. As the weight of the RS fell the weight of the Axumite gold coin did as well, by the same margin. Today these coins are referred to as a Tremisis but it is unknown what the Axumite called their coins. This coin is just a fascinating numismatic curiosity. I am really excited about acquiring this specimen.</p><p><br /></p><p>Africa, Ethiopia</p><p>Kingdom of Axum</p><p>AV Unit ( AD 440-470)</p><p>17 mm x 1.63 grams</p><p>Obverse: Crowned and draped bust right with ribbon behind, holding stick, between wheat stalks, within beaded circle. Ge&#039;ez legend -&nbsp; +nic+cËc+cËx+ËcË (interpretation uncertain - possibly King of the Habashites)</p><p>Reverse: Draped bust right, wearing head cloth (doo rag) with ribbon behind, holding fly whisk, between wheat stalks, within beaded circle.&nbsp; +ccb+ËnË+baz+aza (King Ebana)</p><p>Ref: MH-71</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]479005[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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