November 19, 2018

The Mottoes

By Stuart Munro-Hay

There emerges at this stage yet another unusual feature of the Aksumite coinage. Large numbers of bronze coins were issued, perhaps by Ezana or perhaps by an immediate successor, with no royal name, just the word `basileus’, king. But on the reverse a prominent Greek cross appeared in the centre of the field, surrounded by the motto TOYTOAPECHTHXWPA, `May this please the people’. A silver issue with a similar reverse design bore a cross with its centre and arms hollowed out and gilded. This is the first example of the typical Aksumite numismatic motto (or, in a rather unfortunate translation from Kobishchanov (1979), the `demagogic slogan’). The mottoes are a rather attractive peculiarity of Aksumite coinage, giving a feeling of royal concern and responsibility towards the people’s wishes and contentment, but they were also very practical; the Christian theme of the first of them shows how the kings exploited this useful propaganda instrument to proclaim their new faith throughout the country, or at least as far as the coinage itself spread. King Ouazebas, (c. late 4th – early 5th century) similarly used this motto, and also introduced the gilded halo on his bronze issue, whilst MHDYS employed the Constantinian phrase `By this cross you shall conquer’ and had a spot of gold placed in the centre of the cross itself.

The employment of these mottoes for political or religious themes continued until the collapse of the monetary system. Many fifth-century kings use the phrase `By the grace of God’, or `Thanks be to God’, and later rulers declared `Christ is with us’, or asked for `Mercy and peace’ and the like. Others emphasise certain aspects possibly of political importance. Kaleb (6th century) makes a point of the phrase `Son of Tazena’ perhaps to affirm legitimate succession. Kaleb’s emphasis on his paternity might be connected with some dynastic disturbance. The coins of Wazena similarly announce, around the royal bust, `He who is fitting for the people’, which could also be an indication of difficulties in the succession. On the other hand, the legend could mean `That which is fitting to the people’, and would be a direct translation into Ge`ez of the old Greek motto still used on Kaleb’s bronzes; `May this please the people’. Kaleb’s silver already employed this motto in Ge`ez, but instead of `country’ the word hgr or `city’ was used, possibly referring to Aksum itself as the capital city.

Much of the interpretation of these mottoes is subjective, but they were evidently chosen with a purpose, and it is of value to at least suggest possible motives for them. It may be, for example, that the change of emphasis in the mottoes towards the end of the coinage hints at unrest in the country. After the Christian mottoes which we interpret as part of the propaganda to spread Christianity, the kings Armah, Israel, and Hataz all use mottoes asking for mercy or peace for the people. Occasional references seem to indicate military activity; Gersem, perhaps the last or penultimate of the coin-issuers, employs the phrase `He conquers (shall conquer) through Christ’.