Joel, circa 590s-after 610. 'Lepton' (Bronze, 12 mm, 0.81 g, 12 h), an 'offstrike' from argyros dies. ነገሠአዐአለ ('ngsyoel' = 'King Joel' in Ge'ez) Draped bust of Joel facing, wearing tight-fitting head cloth decorated with cross and circular earrings; to inner right, small cross. Rev. APECH XY Cross with central circle within circular border. Hahn, Aksumite, 60. Hahn & Keck, MAKS, 86AE. Munro-Hay, AC, type 133. Of the highest rarity, just two examples recorded by Hahn & Keck, of which just one is in private hands. A beautiful and very interesting offstrike from silver dies. Minor deposits, otherwise, good very fine.


Very rarely, the Axumites produced offstrikes from precious metal dies in bronze, as is the case with this extremely rare piece, which is of the same type as lot 342 above.