Hethasas/Hataza, circa 610s-630s. Chrysos (Electrum, 17 mm, 1.26 g, 12 h), before 620 (?). BACIΛΙ•AZⲰMΙ Draped half-length bust of Hethasas/Hataza to right, wearing tiara and circular earring, holding spear in his right hand; to left and right, ears of barley; all within circular border. Rev. ✠AC✠A✠Θ✠H Draped half-length bust of Hethasas/Hataza to right, wearing tight-fitting head cloth and circular earring; to left and right, ears of barley; all within circular border. Hahn, Aksumite, 48. Hahn & Keck, MAKS, 91, b). Munro-Hay, AC, type 136. Extremely rare, Hahn & Keck cite just five examples, four of which are in museums. The last Axumite gold coin and hence of the greatest historical importance. Edge chip and flan crack, and with some scratches, otherwise, good fine.


If Hahn & Keck’s reconstruction of the royal succession after Ella Gabaz/Wazen Agad is correct, Hethasas/Hataza was the last Axumite king to strike coins in his own name. Remarkably, he still adhered to a trimetallic coinage, although the gold content of his chrysoi and the silver content of his argyroi (see the next lot) was very low, indicating difficulties in procuring sufficient precious metal. The disruption of the Red Sea trade resulting from the Sasanian conquest of Egypt in 617/8 may soon have rendered coin production obsolete, which would explain the great rarity of Hethasas/Hataza's gold and early silver coins today.

Hahn & Keck have suggested that the short term restoration of Egypt to Byzantine control in 630 may have prompted the Axumites to resume coin production, though only of billon argyroi and bronze lepta (see lots 349 & 350 below), which may have continued posthumously after Hethasas/Hataza's reign. Production of gold coins was permanently discontinued, however, making these extremely rare chrysoi the final Axumite coinage in gold.