Sale: CNG 66, Lot: 1665. Estimate $150.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 19 May 2004.  Sold For $165. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of AXUM. Wazena. Circa 525-550 AD. Æ 17mm (1.56 gm). "King WZN" (in Ge'ez), draped bust right wearing headcloth, holding grain ear; pellet before / "He who is Fitting for the People" (in Ge'ez), cross-crosslet with X; gilt center. Munro-Hay 119; BMC Aksum 415. Good VF, encrusted brown patina. ($150)

One of the most curious aspects of Axumite coinage is the use of gilding on some of the silver and bronze coins. The amount of gold used would not be enough to significantly change the value of the coin, and the reason for this labor-intensive process remains somewhat a mystery. It is usually found highlighting the portrait of the king or as embellishment of the cross, so it may serve the same purpose as gold tesserae in church mosaics and gold leaf on manuscripts--to reflect the Divine Light shining on the monarch and the church.