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Æ15 - Aphilas
| Issuer | Aksum |
|---|---|
| Year | 305-315 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Reference(s) | MHAC#14 |
| Obverse description | Facing bust of King Aphilas, draped and wearing a royal headcloth; a pellet on crescent device is positioned above the effigy. The Greek royal legend encircles the bust, with the lettering commencing from the final letter of the royal title, a distinctive compositional feature of this issue. The engraving reflects the provincial Aksumite interpretation of Hellenistic portraiture traditions. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Aphilas is among the earliest documented Aksumite rulers, and his coinage — struck before Ezana's conversion made Aksum the first state to place the Christian cross on its coins — reflects a transitional moment in Ethiopian numismatic history. The gilt and ungilded variants within his bronze issues suggest deliberate production tiers, possibly tied to ceremonial or tributary function rather than everyday exchange.