The 3rd Century AD

In the 3rd century AD, as Paula Hammond explains, the thriving African kingdom of Aksum developed its own coinage to facilitate international trade.

By the start of the 3rd century AD, Rome was in decline, China was embroiled in coups and civil wars, and the Sasanian Empire had yet to re-establish Persia as a major power. Yet, in Africa, one kingdom was still in its ascendance. The kingdom of Aksum or the Aksumite Empire, as it’s sometimes known, emerged out of the D mt Kingdom around 150 BC. This vibrant civilisation monopolised trade across the Indian Ocean, with access to markets in Egypt, Greece, India and Persia. As many African nations tended to trade with their immediate neighbours, currency on the continent followed its own path for a long time, with gold and copper ingots, and trade items like cowrie shells and salt being used in place of coins. The Aksumite Empire, which controlled much of…

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Stamp Collector (Digital) - 1 Issue, August 2024

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