211, Lot: 483. Estimate $100. Sold for $72. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

AXUM. WZN. Circa 610-630. Æ 17mm (1.06 g, 9h). “He who is suitable for the people” in Ge‘ez, draped bust right, wearing headcloth, holding wheat stalk / “Of the King WZN” in Ge‘ez, long cross with ends terminating in smaller crosses over a smaller Greek cross; gilding in center. Hahn, Aksumite 70.1; Munro-Hay type 120; BMC Axum 414. Good Fine, earthen deposits, area of flat strike.

Munro-Hay and Juel-Jensen have argued that this reverse design was the inspiration for a penny of Offa, the king of Mercia (“Further examples of coins of Offa inspired by Aksumite designs”, NC CII, no. 5, pp. 256-7). Interestingly, a coin of this type was found by a metal detectorist near Hastings - the only known Axumite coin to be discovered in British soil.