Savoca Coins
Online Auction 82 | Silver 26 Jul 2020
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Kings of Axum (Aksum). Aksum (town). Ousanas I circa AD 325. Pre-Christian coinage
Unit AR
14 mm, 1,72 g
OYCAHAC BACIΛEVC, draped bust right, wearing head-cloth with triangular ribbon behind, framed by two grain ears, pellet in crescent above / AΞ(star?)-ωMI, draped bust right, wearing head-cloth with triangular ribbon behind, within linear circle, all within striated border circle.
good very fine
Not in the standard references.
The Aksumites first began producing coins around 270 CE, under the rule of king Endubis. He used Roman weighting standards to issue his coins, which had writing in Greek.
Our coin comes from the time before Aksumites had adopted Christianity, with symbols that represent the sun or moon god. The grain ears could have served the purpose of showing the king as the provider and source of bounty (see Munro-Hay 184-6).
The name that appears on this coin is for Ousanas, a king who was called Ella Allada or Ella Amida in Ethiopian tradition.
ex. Tareq Hani collection
Unit AR
14 mm, 1,72 g
OYCAHAC BACIΛEVC, draped bust right, wearing head-cloth with triangular ribbon behind, framed by two grain ears, pellet in crescent above / AΞ(star?)-ωMI, draped bust right, wearing head-cloth with triangular ribbon behind, within linear circle, all within striated border circle.
good very fine
Not in the standard references.
The Aksumites first began producing coins around 270 CE, under the rule of king Endubis. He used Roman weighting standards to issue his coins, which had writing in Greek.
Our coin comes from the time before Aksumites had adopted Christianity, with symbols that represent the sun or moon god. The grain ears could have served the purpose of showing the king as the provider and source of bounty (see Munro-Hay 184-6).
The name that appears on this coin is for Ousanas, a king who was called Ella Allada or Ella Amida in Ethiopian tradition.
ex. Tareq Hani collection