Hethasas/Hataza, circa 610s-630s. Argyros (Billon, 13 mm, 0.84 g, 11 h), before 620 (?). ሐ-ተዘ ('htz' = 'Hataza' in Ge'ez) Draped bust of Hethasas/Hataza to right, wearing tiara and circular earring; to upper right, pellet.
Rev. ነጉ-ሠ ('ngūs' = 'King' in Ge'ez) Draped bust of Hethasas/Hataza to right, wearing tight-fitting head cloth and circular earring, holding long cross in his right hand. Hahn, Aksumite, 62. Hahn & Keck, MAKS, 92. Munro-Hay, AC, type 138. Extremely rare, just twelve examples recorded by Hahn & Keck, of which eight are in private hands. Somewhat rough
, otherwise, fine.
From the Dr. Stephan Coffman Collection and the Maekelay-Tigray Collection, Roma E-Auction 68, 27 February 2020, 635.
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 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.
