AXUM. Alla Amidas/Armeha, before 540-550s. Dilepton (Gilt Bronze, 21 mm, 2.56 g, 12 h). ነገሠአ-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 left, three pellets.
Rev. ለአሐዘበፈሠሐሰየከነ ('lʼhzbfshlykn' = 'Let there be joy for the people' in Ge'ez) Cross in outline with central circle inlaid in gold between two ears of barley sprouting from annulet below. Hahn, Aksumite, 72. Hahn & Keck, MAKS, 72. Munro-Hay, AC, type 153. Light deposits and with some minor surface cracks on the obverse
, otherwise, very fine.
From an American collection of Axumite coins.
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.
