Ella Gabaz/Wazen Agad, circa late 550s-560s. Unit (Gilt Billon, 17 mm, 1.17 g, 1 h). ነገሠአከሰመ ('ngsʼksm' = 'King of Axum' in Ge'ez) Draped bust of Ella Gabaz/Wazen Agad facing, wearing tiara inlaid in gold, circular earrings and pearl necklace; to left, monogram of አገደ ('agd' in Ge'ez). Rev. ✠ነገሠ-ዘየዐበየለመደኀነ ('ngszyʽbylmdhn' = 'The king who exalts the Savior' in Ge'ez) Cross in outline with central square inlaid in gold within distyle arch. Hahn, Aksumite, 69. Hahn & Keck, MAKS, 75.109 (this coin). Munro-Hay, AC, type 126. A wonderful piece, very well struck and with intact gilding. Minor deposits, otherwise, extremely fine.


The name 'Agad', presented as a monogram on Ella Gabaz/Wazen Agad's silver coinage, literally means 'donkey' in Ge'ez. While this may seem like a particularly unflattering name for a ruler, Christ was famously carried into Jerusalem by a donkey, and it likely had a more positive meaning than we would assume today. The reverse scene, a seemingly simplified version of the one found on the silver coinage of Alla Amidas/Armeha (see lot 323 above), may, together with the legend, refer to the gift of a piece of the True Cross by the Byzantines (otherwise also attested as a diplomatic gift), which would certainly have received a fitting shrine in Axum.