Aksumite Coinage: The Ancient Currency That Linked Continents

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the world of Aksumite coinage, one of the most sophisticated monetary systems of late antiquity. They trace its origins from the port of Adulis and King Endubis in the third century AD to its peak under King Kaleb in the sixth century. Lucas explains how Aksumite coins—minted in gold, silver, and bronze—carried symbols like the crescent and disk, and later the cross, reflecting the empire's religious evolution. The coins reveal trade networks with Rome, India, and beyond, and even include Greek inscriptions alongside Ge'ez. Luna asks about the mysterious gold coin of Emperor Ousanas, which bears a unique legend, and about the decline of the currency. Lucas discusses the impact of the rise of Islam and the shift to a barter economy. They cover how modern archaeological finds of these coins in Yemen and India confirm Aksum's global reach. The episode ends on a reflective note about how currency tells the story of a civilization's connections. #AksumiteCoinage #Endubis #Kaleb #Adulis #GeEz #GreekInscriptions #CrescentAndDisk #ChristianCross #RomanTrade #IndianTrade #GoldCoin #SilverCoin #BronzeCoin #Aksum #EastAfrica #AncientEconomy #Numismatics #FexingoHistory #AksumiteEmpire #Lalibela Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo