★ Published in Anzani, 1928/9 ★

Kingdom of Axum, Aphilas AV Unit. Circa AD 310-325. AΦIΛAC BACIΛЄYC ("King Aphilas"), crowned and draped bust to right, holding stick, flanked by wheat stalks; crescent and pellet above; all within border of semi-circles / AξѠMITѠN BICIΔIMΛH ("of the Aksumites, man of Dimele"), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, holding fly whisk, flanked by wheat stalks; crescent and pellet above. Hahn & Keck 4.4 (this coin) = Vaccaro 5 (this coin) = Anzani II (1928/9), 10, pl. N, 3 (this coin) = Anzani (1926) 10; Roma e67, 517 (hammer: £3,200); CNG e129, 415. 2.80g, 17mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine; flan slightly wavy, superb for the type. Extremely Rare; one of ten examples cited by Hahn & Keck, five of which are in museums.

This coin published in the online Phaidra database of the University of Vienna at: https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:1189214;
This coin cited in W.R.O Hahn and R. Keck, Münzgeschichte der AksumitenKönige in der Spätantike, Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Numismatik und Geldgeschichte der Universität Wien Vol. 21 (2020);
This coin cited in W.R.O. Hahn, Die Münzprägung Des Axumitischen Reiches (Litterae Numismaticae Vindobonenses, 1983);
This coin published in F. Vaccaro, Le Monete di Aksum (Mantua: Italia Numismatica, 1967);
This coin published in A. Anzani, Numismatica e Storia d'Etiopia in Rivista Italiana di Numismatica (1928/9);
This coin cited in A. Anzani, Numismatica Aksumita in Rivista Italiana di Numismatica (1926): “Un altro aureo di Afilas e segnalato come posseduto dal sig. Cinnirella di Asmara”;
From the Maekelay-Tigray Collection;
Ex Francesco Vaccaro (1903-1990) Collection;
Ex F. Cinnirella Collection (a collector who lived in Asmara, Eritrea, active c. 1920s).