Alla Amidas/Armeha, before 540-550s. Dilepton (Gilt Bronze, 20 mm, 1.96 g, 12 h). ነገሠ-አ-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 partially inlaid in gold between two ears of barley sprouting from annulet below. Hahn, Aksumite, 72. Hahn & Keck, MAKS, 72. Munro-Hay, AC, type 153. A truly exceptional piece with a beautiful dark patina and traces of gilding on the reverse, beyond doubt one of the finest Axumite bronze coins in existence. Good extremely fine.
From the Dr. Stephan Coffman Collection.
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.
