Alla Amidas/Armeha, before 540-550s. Dilepton (Bronze, 20 mm, 1.54 g, 12 h). ነገሠአ-ረመሐ ('ngsʼrmh' = 'King Armeha' in Ge'ez) Alla Amidas/Armeha seated right on low throne, wearing tiara and circular earring, holding long cross-tipped scepter in his right hand and with bracelets on his right arm; to inner right, pellet. Rev. ለአሐዘበፈሠሐሰየከነ ('lʼhzbfshlykn' = 'Let there be joy for the people' in Ge'ez) Cross in outline with central circle between two ears of barley sprouting from annulet below. Hahn, Aksumite, 72. Hahn & Keck, MAKS, 72. Munro-Hay, AC, type 153. Attractive earthen highlights. Minor areas of weakness, otherwise, very fine.


If we discount the unique chrysos of Mhdys (Hahn & Keck, MAKS, 40), the authenticity of which is questionable, Alla Amida/Armeha's bronze coins offer the only full-length depiction of a king on the Axumite coinage.