Axum's King Endubis: The Gold Coin That Changed Trade

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the reign of King Endubis, the first Aksumite ruler to mint coins. They trace how his gold, silver, and bronze issues transformed Axum into a commercial powerhouse, linking the Roman Empire, India, and Arabia. The discussion covers the design of the coins—featuring the king's profile, his crown, and the Ge'ez legend—and what they reveal about Axum's international ambitions. Lucas explains why Endubis adopted Greek and Roman imagery while asserting African identity, and how his coinage stabilized trade across the Red Sea. The episode also examines the sources: hoards found in Yemen and Ethiopia, and mentions in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. Finally, they consider the unsolved mystery of where the gold came from, possibly from as far as Zimbabwe. A fresh angle on Axum's economic power that hasn't been covered in prior episodes. #Axum #Endubis #AksumiteCoinage #GoldCoin #RedSeaTrade #RomanEmpire #AncientAfrica #Numismatics #GeEz #PeriplusErythraeanSea #Adulis #AksumiteEconomy #3rdCenturyAD #EthiopianHistory #TradeRoutes #Basileus #History #FexingoHistory #KingdomOfAxum #AksumiteEmpire Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo