Joel, circa 590s-after 610. 'Lepton' (Gilt Bronze, 11 mm, 0.80 g, 4 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, crescent. Rev. APECH XY Cross with central circle inlaid in gold 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. Minor cleaning scratches, otherwise, 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 lots 5581-5583 above.