Argyros - Ioel
Aksum • Argyros • Silver (.900) • 590–615
- Denomination
- Argyros
- Issuer
- Aksum
- Struck
- 590–615
- Composition
- Silver (.900)
- Currency
- Chrysos
- Weight
- 0.85 g
- Diameter
- 12 mm
- Catalog refs
- MHAC 129 · SACAM 428-36 · BMC Aksum 477-9
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Where it came from
The Aksumite argyros, or silver coin, issued under King Ioel around 590 CE, represents a period of late prosperity for the Kingdom of Aksum. Positioned in the Horn of Africa, Aksum served as a vital maritime trade intermediary between the Byzantine Empire and the Indian Ocean. These coins were minted primarily to facilitate international commerce and project the sovereignty of the Aksumite monarchs across the Red Sea trade networks, often featuring the king's portrait alongside symbols of the state's transition to Christianity.
The design follows the long-standing Aksumite tradition of displaying the ruler’s profile surrounded by grain stalks, a motif that emphasized the kingdom's agricultural wealth and divine favor. The craftsmanship reflects a distinct blend of Hellenistic numismatic influence, inherited from earlier Greco-Roman contact, and the local aesthetic preferences of the Aksumite court. These issues are esteemed by numismatists today for their role in mapping the complex economic interactions of a pre-Islamic East African superpower.
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About Argyros - Ioel
Argyros - Ioel is a coin in the Coins catalog on collecto.rs. Aksum • Argyros • Silver (.900) • 590–615. Catalog data is sourced from Numista. No public coins collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
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