Since the general sources on Axum and its rulers are rather sparse, the coins of this late antique Ethiopian kingdom have a very special historical value for us today.
Sabaean immigrants from southern Arabia founded African colonies in the 1st millennium BC, which, among other things, formed the basis for the emergence of the Axumite Empire in the 1st century AD. This original connection to the mythical Kingdom of Sheba was particularly invoked for legitimacy by the dynasties that succeeded the Axumite kingdom – indeed, even the Ethiopian emperors up to Haile Selassie (1930-1974) were said to be direct descendants of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.
The rise of the Axumite Empire in the 3rd century AD coincided with the beginning of the decline of the Roman Empire. The Axumites' commercial strength is evidenced by their coinage, which began no earlier than the 290s AD and used a trimetallic system (gold, silver, and copper coins), even employing an "imitatio imperii Romani" (imitation of the Roman Empire). The gold coins were deliberately adapted to the Roman monetary system, initially corresponding exactly to half an aureus in weight, later to half a solidus, until a reduction in weight and fineness occurred.
Axum - Endubis (270-300)
1/2 Aureus
Av: ENΔYBIC - BACIΛEYC
Bust of the king with a cap-like crown between two ears of grain, above it a crescent moon and sun disk
Rv: AξωMITω - BICIΔAXY
Bust of the king with a cap-like crown between two ears of grain, above it a crescent moon and sun disk
AV, 2.69g.
BMC: 1; Fr: 1
The coin legends begin in Greek, then switch to the local Ge'ez language. Our coin reads: " Endubis, King of the Axumites, Man of Dakhu ".
The crescent moon above the ruler's bust is a symbol of the highest Axumite deity, the moon and war god Mahrem, who is also considered the father of the initially pagan royal dynasty. The ears of grain represent the earth goddess Meder. Also striking is the king's cap-crown or headscarf, which served to cover and symbolically protect his hair. As an integral part of royal attire, this headdress was also worn beneath the tiara or radiate crown.
Under King Ezana, around 360 AD, the religious conversion to Christianity took place, which soon left its mark on coin images and legends.
The elaborate partial gilding of Axumite silver and copper coins by fire gilding is particularly famous.
The strong connection between Axum/Ethiopia and Jerusalem runs like a thread through history: According to legend, Menelik I, the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba – the progenitor of the Ethiopian Solomonic dynasty – brought the Ark of the Covenant from Jerusalem to the city of Aksum in Ethiopia, where it is said to be kept to this day in the Church of St. Mary of Zion. Around 400 AD, Ethiopian pilgrims and monks from the Axumite Empire attest to a lively exchange with Jerusalem.
A small side note :
The Rastafarian faith, in a sense, traces its origins back to Haile Selassie, whom we have already mentioned. The emperor's princely name, and the 225th successor of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, was Lija Ras Tafari Mäkonnen, and he is regarded by Rastafarians as the returned Messiah.
literature
livingston.org (pdf)
numismatik.univie.ac.at (pdf)
oenb.at (pdf)
