Ezanas, circa 345-380. 3 Argyroi (Gilt Silver, 13 mm, 1.12 g, 12 h), Christian types, circa 359/60-380. HZA-ϞAC Draped bust of Ezanas to right, wearing tight-fitting head cloth and circular earring, all within double linear circle; above, gilt disk set on slanted cross.
Rev. ΒΑCI-ΛЄΥC Draped bust of Ezanas to right, wearing tight-fitting head cloth and circular earring, all within linear circle within thick circular border. Hahn, Aksumite, 22a. Hahn & Keck, MAKS, pl. 4, 34.43 (
this coin). Munro-Hay, AC, type 43. Very rare. A beautiful example of this interesting early Christian type. Minor roughness
, otherwise, about extremely fine.
From the Dr. Stephan Coffman Collection.
The unusual symbol on the obverse of this coin likely represents a solar symbol, not in the pagan sense, but as a solar halo of the kind seen by Constantine the Great before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312. A similar phenomenon occurred in the middle of the 4th century in the sky above Jerusalem, news of which may have reached Axum as well. Furthermore, by employing a slanted cross (with the upper arms off flan on our example), the letter 'X' was invoked, which of course symbolized Christ himself. All in all, this fascinating issue reflects the great creativity employed by the Axumites in appropriating a new religious iconography for their coinage.
