Axumite Coinage: The Gold That Spoke to the World

Episode 30 of Fexingo History's Axum series dives into the kingdom's remarkable coinage system. From King Endubis's first gold issues in the late 3rd century CE to the Christian cross replacing the pagan crescent under Ezana, Axum's coins were more than money—they were diplomatic tools, declarations of faith, and a window onto a lost empire. Lucas and Luna examine the imagery: the king's profile with a crown of wheat, the Greek legends that named Axum's rulers basileus, the subtle shifts from polytheism to Christianity. They also explore how coin hoards from India to Yemen prove Axum's reach, and why the mysterious gold units known as 'aureus' still puzzle collectors today. Along the way, they unpack the economics: why Axum never minted silver, how its mint in Adulis operated, and what happened when the empire's gold supply began to fade. A must for anyone interested in the intersection of economics, art, and power in the ancient world. #AxumiteCoinage #KingEndubis #Ezana #Adulis #Basileus #Aureus #GeEzLegends #GreekInscriptions #ChristianCross #RedSeaTrade #PeriplusErythraeanSea #Numismatics #EastAfrica #AncientEconomy #GoldCoin #Minting #History #FexingoHistory #KingdomOfAxum #AksumiteEmpire Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo