Axum's Coinage: The First African Currency to Rival Rome

In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the remarkable coinage of the Kingdom of Axum, a sophisticated monetary system that made Axum the first African state to mint its own currency on a large scale. Learn how Axumite coins—made of gold, silver, and bronze—became a powerful tool of trade, propaganda, and diplomacy from the 3rd to the 7th century AD. Lucas explains how the coins bear images of kings like Endubis, Wazeba, and Ezana, often with the Ge'ez legend 'basileus' (king), and how they circulated alongside Roman and Sassanid coins in the Red Sea trade. Discover the mystery of the gold 'stater' standard, the rare silver issues, and the enigmatic late coins of King Armah that hint at Axum's decline. Luna asks about the coins' religious symbolism—how Ezana's coins transitioned from the crescent-and-disk of the god Mahrem to the cross of Christianity. The episode also covers the practical side: where coins were minted, how they were used in everyday life, and why Axum abandoned coinage after the 7th century. A fascinating look at how money tells the story of an empire. #Axum #AxumiteCoinage #Endubis #Wazeba #Ezana #Armah #Ge'ez #basileus #Mahrem #RedSeaTrade #AncientEconomy #Numismatics #EthiopianHistory #AfricanHistory #AncientMoney #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo