Lot 1008 – Kingdom of Aksum, Endybis c. 300-310 AD, AV 2.64 g.

Kingdom of Aksum, Endybis c. 300-310 AD, AV 2.64 g. (15 mm). Obverse: draped bust of Endybis to right, wearing tight-fitting head cloth and circular earring; to left and right, ears of barley, above, pellet in crescent, latin legend ENΔΥBIC – ΒΑCIΛEYC, Kind Endybius. Reverse: draped bust of Endybis to right, wearing tight-fitting head cloth and circular earring; to left and right, ears of barley, above, pellet in crescent, Greek legend ΑξⲰΜΙΤⲰ – BICI ΔAXY, ‘of the Aksumites, man of Daku’.

About EF, lustrous surfaces; what appears to be a test cut at 6 o’clock is a minting issue, raised metal overlaps the area.

A choice specimen of the gold coin of ruler Endybis, the first Aksumn ruler to produce coins. Clearly modelled on Roman coinage, Endybis’ coin deviated from convention at the time by depicting the ruler on both obverse and reverse.

Ex Chand Collection