AXUM. Noe, 5th century. Chrysos (Gold, 18 mm, 1.55 g, 12 h), Noe, 5th century. ✠ΛCΛ✠XΛƆ✠ƆΛƆ✠CΛC Draped half-length bust of Noe to right, wearing tiara and circular earring, holding spear in his right hand and with bracelets on his right arm; to left and right, ears of barley; all within circular border. Rev. ✠IⲰC✠XΛΛ✠ƆIƆ✠IΛH Draped half-length bust of Noe to right, wearing tight-fitting head cloth and circular earring, holding branch in his right hand and with bracelets on his right arm; to left and right, ears of barley; all within circular border. Hahn, Aksumite, 28. Hahn & Keck, MAKS, 38.174 ( this coin ). Munro-Hay, AC, 59. Struck from a worn obverse die, otherwise, very fine.

From the Dr. Stephan Coffman Collection, privately acquired from NBJ in December 2018.

While nothing is known of his reign, Noe is interesting for being the first Axumite king to employ a biblical name (Noah) on his coinage. The obverse legend names him 'BA XAC ABACCIN' or ' Ba sileus Ch or as Abassin о̄n', which translates as 'King of the Land of the Abyssinians', a formula in common use on the Axumite gold coinage afterwards.