Ezanas, circa 345-380. Chrysos (Gold, 15 mm, 1.71 g, 12 h), pagan types, circa 345-360. ΗΖΑΝΑC B-ΑCIAЄ-YC (sic!) Draped half-length bust of Ezanas to right, wearing long garment, tiara and circular earring, holding spear in his right hand and with bracelets on his right arm; to left and right, ears of barley; above, pellet in crescent. Rev. ΑξⲰΜΙΤⲰΝ B-ICI AΛЄΝЄ Draped half-length bust of Ezanas to right, wearing long garment, tight-fitting head cloth and circular earring, holding branch in his right hand and with bracelets on his right arm; to left and right, ears of barley; above, pellet in crescent. Hahn, Aksumite, 17. Hahn & Keck, MAKS, 24.19 = Phaidra 1189417 (this coin). Munro-Hay, AC, type 36. A very rare and interesting pagan chrysos of Ezanas, struck before his conversion to Christianity. Struck from somewhat worn dies and with traces of mounting, otherwise, very fine.


In contrast to many Axumite kings, the reign of Ezanas is relatively well-attested, both epigraphically and in literary sources (notably due to his conversion to Christianity, see lot 296 below for the story recorded by Rufinus of Aquileia). The inscriptions in particular depict him as a great military leader subduing a variety of peoples surrounding Axum, and his rather grandiose titles are given as 'King of the Aksumites, Himyarites and Raeidan, the Ethiopians, the Sabaeans and Silei, Tiamo and the Beja and Kasu, King of Kings, Son of the invincible God Ares (i.e., Mahrem)' (trans. Munro-Hay 1991). His early coinage still employs pagan elements, most notably the pellet in crescent, although this was soon to change after his conversion. His reign saw another weight reduction in the gold coinage, which was now decoupled from the Roman currency.