Gersem, circa 580s. Argyros (Billon, 15 mm, 0.62 g, 5 h). ገረ-ሰመ ('grsm' = 'Gersem' in Ge'ez) Draped half-length bust of Gersem to right, wearing tiara and circular earring, holding long cross in his right hand and with bracelets on his right arm; to upper left, pellet. Rev. ነገ-ሠ ('ngs' = 'King' in Ge'ez) Draped half-length bust of Gersem to right, wearing tight-fitting head cloth and circular earring, holding long cross in his right hand and with bracelets on his right arm; to right, crescent (?). Hahn, Aksumite, 51. Hahn & Keck, MAKS, 82. Munro-Hay, AC, type 147. Darkly toned. Slightly rough, otherwise, very fine.

From the Dr. Stephan Coffman Collection and the Maekelay-Tigray Collection, Roma E-Auction 69, 16 April 2020, 582.

Israel was the name given to the patriarch Jacob after wrestling with an angel (Genesis 32:24-32), from which the Israelites derived their name.