Aksumite currency and Doctors of Madness: Difference between pages

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{{Infobox musical artist 2

The '''coinage of Axum''' was the only native coinage to be issued in [[Africa]] without direct influence by an outside culture like the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] or [[Ancient Greece|Greek]], e.g. It lasted from the middle of the height of the '''[[Kingdom of Aksum|Kingdom]]''' under [[Kings of Axum|King]] [[Endubis]] ca. [[270]] AD until it began its decline in the first half of the 7th century. No [[sub-Saharan Africa|sub-Saharan]] state would mint coins after Aksum until the [[Kilwa]] sultanate in the tenth century.<ref name="Munro150">Munro-Hay, Stuart. ''Aksum: An African Civilization of Late Antiquity''. Edinburgh: University Press, 1991, pp. 150.</ref>

|Name = [[Image:Dox_Logo.jpg|80px]]

|Img = Olympia.jpg

|Img_capt = Doctors of Madness live at the Great British Music Festival, Olympia, London, 31st Dec 1975.

|Background = group_or_band

|Birth_name =

|Alias =

|Born =

|Died =

|Origin = [[London]], [[England]] {{flagicon|England}}

|Instrument =

|Genre = [[Proto punk]], [[Art rock]], [[Rock music]]

|Occupation =

|Years_active = 1974-1978|Label = [[Polydor Records]],[http://www.geocities.com/uheep2/ozit.htm Ozit Records]

|Associated_acts =

|URL = http://www.doctorsofmadness.co.uk

|Current_members = [[Richard Strange]] <br /> [[Urban Blitz]] <br /> Stoner <br /> Peter Dilemma <br /> [[Dave Vanian]] (1978)

}}

[http://www.doorag.f9.co.uk/doctorsofmadness '''Doctors of Madness'''] were a [[protopunk]] [[rock band]] formed in 1974 in a cellar in [[Brixton]], south London by the composer and lead singer/guitarist [[Richard Strange]], known as ‘Kid’ Strange.

To provide a platform for his groundbreaking musical ideas and compositions analysing urban [[neurosis]] and [[systems]] of control; [http://www.richardstrange.com/music/musicb02.htm Strange]joined forces with [[Urban Blitz]] ([[electric violin]], baritone [[violectra]] and lead guitar) Stoner (vocals, bass guitar) and Peter DiLemma (vocals, drums) to provide the [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=41270242 acclaimed critical link] between the early ‘70’s [[glam rock]] of [[David Bowie]] and [[Roxy Music]], and the later ‘70’s [[punk rock]] of the [[Sex Pistols]] and [[The Clash]]. The [[Velvet Underground]] were cited as an early influence along with writer [[William Burroughs]].

==Origins==

[[Image:KID.gif|left|thumb|200px|Kid Strange.]]

===Pre-coinage period===

Though the issuing of minted coins didn't begin until ca. 270 AD, metal coins may have been used in Aksum centuries prior to centralized minting. The ''[[Periplus of the Erythraean Sea]]'' mentions that the [[Kingdom of Aksum|Aksumite state]] imported brass ([[Greek language|Gr.]] ''orokhalkos''), "which they use[d] for ornaments and for cutting as money", and they imported "a little money (denarion) for [use by] foreigners who live there." It can be inferred, therefore, that early Aksumite [[Kings of Axum|rulers]], located on the international trading waters of the [[Red sea]], recognized the utility of a standardized currency for facilitating both domestic and international trade.<ref name="Munro151">Munro-Hay, Stuart. ''Aksum: An African Civilization of Late Antiquity''. Edinburgh: University Press, 1991, pp. 151.</ref>

Doctors of Madness toured extensively in Great Britain and in continental Europe; gigging in France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden.

===Influences===

Though Aksumite coins are indigenous in design and creation, some outside influences encouraging the use of coins is undeniable. By the time coins were first minted in Aksum, there was widespread trade with [[Roman Empire|Romans]] on the [[Red sea]]; [[Kushana]] or [[Persia]]n influence also cannot be ruled out. Roman, [[Himyar]]ite, and Kushana coins have all been found in major Aksumite cities, however, only very small quantities have been attested and the circulation of foreign currency seems to have been limited.<ref name="Munro152">Munro-Hay, Stuart. ''Aksum'', pp. 152</ref> Though [[South Arabia]]n kingdoms had also minted coins, they had already gone out of use by the time of certain Aksumite involvement in South Arabia under [[GDRT]], and only very rarely produced [[electrum]] or [[gold coins|gold]] denominations ([[silver coins|silver]] mainly in [[Sabaeans|Saba']] and [[Himyar]], while [[bronze]] in [[Hadhramaut]]), making influence unlikely. The major impetus, however, was not emulation but economical; the Red sea and its coasts had always been an international trade area and coins would greatly facilitate trade and wealth in the now "world power."<ref name="Munro150" /> Despite these influences, the coins were of genuinely indigenous design, and foreign influences were relatively weak and few in number.<ref name="Encyc768">Herausgegeben von Uhlig, Siegbert. ''Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: A-C''. Wiesbaden:Harrassowitz Verlag, 2003. pp.768.</ref>

Doctors of Madness stage show incorporated projected backdrop images, smoke, [[strobe lights]] and theatrical spot-lighting and also taped [[sound effects]]. Stage props were occasionally used.

==Pre-Christian period==

The coinage of [[Kingdom of Aksum|Axum]] came in the later stages of the growth of the empire when its [[golden age]] had already begun. The minting of coins began around 270AD, beginning with the reign of [[Endubis]].

Between 1975 and 1977, Doctors of Madness recorded three albums for [[Polydor]] records - [http://www.geocities.com/uheep2/dom.htm ‘Late Night Movies, All Night Brainstorms’] produced by John Punter, [http://www.geocities.com/uheep2/dom-eman.htm ‘Figments of Emancipation’]recorded at [[Abbey Road studios]] with producer [[John Leckie]], and [http://www.geocities.com/uheep2/dom-surv.htm ‘Sons of Survival’]. The posthumous compilation ‘[[Revisionism]]’ was released in 1981, the band having split in late 1978. The first three albums were recently re-released on CD by [http://www.geocities.com/uheep2/ozit.htm Ozit Records] .

A single, [http://www.btinternet.com/~thisispunkrock/ps/uk/1/doctors.htm 'Bulletin'] backed by 'Waiting' was released in 1977.

==Source of Materials==

During 1978 the Doctors of Madness line up briefly included singer [[Dave Vanian]] of [[Punk rock]] band [[The Damned]] who had recently split.

===Gold===

Gold seems to have been acquired from a number of sources. Gold probably came from ''Sasu'' (southern [[Sudan]]), as well as more nearby [[Ethiopia]]n sources, though the latter isn't well documentated for the north. A gold trade from the southern areas of Ethiopia such as the medeival province/kingdom of [[Enarya]] has been attested from the 6th century (i.e. from the writings of [[Cosmas Indicopleus]]) and continued through [[James Bruce]]'s day (18th c.). Gold also came from more northerly sources such as [[Gojjam]], [[Beja people|Beja]] lands, and what is now [[Eritrea]], though the latter two are less certain.<ref name="Munro143">Munro-Hay, Stuart. ''Aksum''. Edinburgh: University Press, 1991, pp.143</ref>

[[Category:Pre-punk groups|Doctors of Madness]]

===Silver and Others===

[[Category:Art rock|Doctors of Madness]]

While local sources of gold are attested during the Aksumite era, [[silver]] seems to have been rarer in Aksum. No mention of silver mines in the region exist until the 15th and 16th centuries. Though silver was imported as attested by the ''[[Periplus of the Erythraean Sea]]'',<ref>Munro-Hay, Stuart. ''Aksum'', pp.145</ref> given the preponderance of silver coins, it could not have been the only source of silver in [[Kingdom of Aksum|Aksum]]. Furthermore, a significant number of the silver coins contain gold inlays (presumably to increase the value), which would have been unnecessary if silver were so rare that it had to be mainly imported.<ref name="Munro143" /> Silver may have been obtained from the refinement of gold, which sometimes occurs naturally with silver in an alloy called [[electrum]].<ref name="Encyc767">HeursXXXX von Uhlig, Siegbert. ''Encyclopaedia: A-C'', pp. 767.</ref>

[[Category:1970s music groups|Doctors of Madness]]

[[Category:Musical groups established in 1974|Doctors of Madness]]

[[Copper]] and [[bronze]] do not seem to have existed locally in the Aksumite empire, though they were noted as imports in the ''Periplus of the Erythraean Sea''.<ref name="Munro143" />

[[Category:Peel Sessions artists|Doctors of Madness]]

[[Category:Music from London|Doctors of Madness]]

==Value==

Though the gold coins were certainly the most valuable issue, followed by the silver one, the exact relationship between the three issues (gold, silver, and bronze) is not known. The supply of gold was closely controlled by the Aksumite state, as noted by [[Cosmas Indicopleus]], and other precious metals were undoubtedly also closely controlled, allowing the Aksumite state to ensure the usage of its currency. (154)

==Coinage==

The ruler of the [[Kingdom of Aksum|Aksumite empire]] found it convenient to issue [[bronze]], [[silver]] and [[gold]] coinage based on the coinage weights of [[Rome]].

===[[Gold coin]]s===

The gold coin weighed on average 2.5-2.8 grams and was 15-21 mm in diameter at the start of issue, in [[270]]-[[300]]. This would make it half an [[Aureus]] which weighed 4.62-6.51 grams at the time of [[Probus]]. The issue of [[Israel of Axum|Israel]] ([[570]]-[[600]]) weighed 1.5 grams and was 17 mm in [[diameter]]. The Roman [[solidus]] of [[Maurice]] Tiberius was 4.36-4.47 grams. A majority of these coins were found in [[South Arabia]] and not Axum. The name is unknown so it is referred to as an [[AU]] Unit.

===[[Silver coin]]age===

Also starting with [[Endubis]] these coins were 2.11-2.5 grams in weight which is half the weight of a Roman [[antoninianus]] of 3.5-4.5 [[gram]]s. A [[Denarius]] in the early 3rd century was 2.5-3.00 grams of 52% or less of silver, but the Axum coins were almost pure silver at first later debased. The name is unknown so it is referred to as an [[AR]] Unit.

===[[Coinage|Base coinage]]===

Most bronze and silver coins have mainly been found in Axum territory with very few pieces found in [[Judea]], [[Meroe]] and [[Egypt]]. They are based roughlty on the size of older roman [[As (coin)|As]] and [[Sestertius]] in shape and thickness. The design also developed like Roman coins in first being good but then the pictures turn archaic and non recognisable. The name is unknown so it is referred to as a [[AE]] diameter im mm Unit, like AE17 for a coin of 17 mm.

==Trade==

As Axum had a long contact with [[Ancient Greece|Greek]], [[Ancient Rome|Roman]], [[Persian Empire|Persian]] and [[India]]n trade, it is a little surprising that coinage wasn't issued earlier. But the economy needs to develop to a certain degree for coinage to be accepted. Most Axum coins were found in the large trade centres with very few in remote villages, where trade would be more through [[barter]] and not coinage based.

== Archaeology ==

Due to the nature of the coins (e.g. providing kings' names), they have proved essential in constructing a chronology of [[Kings of Axum|Aksumite kings]]. An estimated 98% of the city of Axum CITE!!!! remains unexcavated, and other areas even more so. Through analysis of the number of coins produced and the style of coins, archaeologists have been able to construct a rough chronology, generally agreed upon until the late 6th and 7th century kings. Of the 20 [[Kings of Axum|Aksumite Kings]] attested by their coins, inscriptions corroborate the existence of only two, who happen to be the most famous kings: [[Ezana of Axum|Ezana]] and [[Kaleb of Axum|Kaleb]], both of whose reigns were periods of exceptional prosperity during the height of the Aksumite kingdom.<ref name="Encyc767" />

==References==

<references/>

==See also==

*[[Elymais]]

*[[Achaemenid currency]]

==External links==

*[http://users.vnet.net/alight/aksum/mhak3.html#c9 About Axum]

*[http://www.zeno.ru/showgallery.php?cat=2242 Photos of Axum coinage]

*[http://www.13suns.com/AXUMITE%20COINS.HTM Axumite Coinage]

==Bibliography==

''Coin comparison for 270-300'',

Axum gold of: St Munro-Hay & B.Juel-Jensen Axumite Coinage (1995): Coin numbers for [[Endubis]] 1,2 & 79.

Roman [[RIC]] of [[Probus]]: 139, 141, 143, 307.

''Coin comparison for 570-600'',

Axum for [[Israel of Axum]] book same as Endubis above, for Israel: Coin numbers 143, 144.

Byzantine [[Sear]] of [[Maurice]] Tiberius: Coin number 474, 477, 478, 524.

[[Category:Axum]]

[[Category:Ancient currencies]]