Trading was important for Aksum because they were in the middle of the Roman empire and ancient India. They traded with many countries such as Alexandrian Egypt, India, Byzantium, and eventually Rome. They traded salt ivory, slaves, and grains. Their homemade coffee doubled as 55% of the exports. Aksum had many natural resources such as oil, gold, gemstones, tin, and iron ore. Aksum's currency was established some time in the third century A.D. Their coin depicted leaders and the cross of Christianity as a representation of its holy stature.