brons Joel, Lepton, circa, 590s-after 610

Joel, circa 590s-after 610. 'Lepton' (Bronze, 12 mm, 0.81 g, 12 h), an 'offstrike' from argyros dies. ነገሠአዐአለ ('ngsyoel' = 'King Joel' in Ge'ez) Draped bust of Joel facing, wearing tight-fitting head cloth decorated with cross and circular earrings; to inner right, small cross. Rev. APECH XY Cross with central circle within circular border. Hahn, Aksumite, 60. Hahn & Keck, MAKS, 86AE. Munro-Hay, AC, type 133. Of the highest rarity, just two examples recorded by Hahn & Keck, of which just one is in private hands. A beautiful and very interesting offstrike from silver dies. Minor deposits, otherwise, good very fine.

From the Dr. Stephan Coffman Collection.

Very rarely, the Axumites produced offstrikes from precious metal dies in bronze, as is the case with this extremely rare piece, which is of the same type as lot 342 above.

Leu, okt. 2023, lot 344, 3000 CHF (Euro 3156)

Joel, circa 590s-after 610. Lepton (Bronze, 13 mm, 0.58 g, 11 h). ነጉ-ሠ ('ngūs' = 'King' in Ge'ez) Draped bust of Joel to right, wearing tiara and circular earring; to upper left, -; to upper right, cross. Rev. አ-ዐ-አ-ለ ('yoel' = 'Joel' in Ge'ez) Cross. Hahn, Aksumite, 59. Hahn & Keck, MAKS, 90, b). Munro-Hay, AC, type 131. A well struck and unusually attractive example of this difficult issue. Minor die break on the obverse, otherwise, very fine.

From the Dr. Stephan Coffman Collection, ex Classical Numismatic Group E-Auction 338, 5 November 2014, 320.

Based on the placement of the king's name on the reverse in the angles of the cross, Hahn & Keck (MAKS, p. 137-138) suggest that this type may have been produced posthumously

Leu, okt. 2023, lot 345, 420 CHF (Euro 442)