Hethasas/Hataza, circa 610s-630s. Chrysos (Electrum, 18 mm, 1.35 g, 2 h), before 620 (?). ᗺACIΛ[Ι] AξⲰИΓ Draped half-length bust of Hethasas/Hataza to right, wearing tiara and circular earring, holding spear in his right hand; to left and right, ears of barley; all within circular border. Rev. ✠C✠A✠H✠ΘΑ Draped half-length bust of Hethasas/Hataza to right, wearing tight-fitting head cloth and circular earring; to left and right, ears of barley; all within circular border. Hahn, Aksumite, 48. Hahn & Keck, MAKS, 91, b). Munro-Hay, AC, type 136. Of the highest rarity, just five examples recorded by Hahn & Keck. Holed and with some edge chipping, otherwise, fine.


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.

Hahn & Keck have suggested that the short term restoration of Egypt to Byzantine control in 630 may have prompted the Axumites to resume coin production, though only of billon argyroi and bronze lepta, which may have continued posthumously after Hethasas/Hataza's reign. Production of gold coins was permanently discontinued, however, making these extremely rare chrysoi the final Axumite coinage in gold.