Description
Aksumite Empire, Ebana, King of Aksum fl. 5th century AD, Gold Unit (1.62g, 17.5mm), circa 440-460 AD. Obverse: Draped bust of King Ebana facing to the right, wearing tiara and holding spear in right hand, ears of barley set either side, inner border and legend surrounds, “+ CΛX ⧾ ΛƆΛ ⧾ ƆΛƆ ⧾ CIϞ”. Reverse: Draped bust of King Ebana facing to the right, wearing head cloth and holding fly-whisk in right hand, ears of barley set either side, inner border and legend surrounds, “+ CΛƆ + ΛC˙Λ + ƆƆ𐐒 + ΛNΛ”. Hahn & Keck-43; Hahn, Aksumite-34. Struck with rusty dies and an area of flat strike to obverse, otherwise quite charming, the reverse portrait decent, near Extremely Fine.