Macedon (Chalkidiki). Aphytis. Circa 400-350 BC. Bronze. (Bronze, 18.62 mm, 6.52 g). Head of Zeus Ammon facing slightly left. Rev. AΦΥ - TAI - ΩΝ, Kantharos. AMNG III/2, 5-6. SNG ANS 211. SNG Copenhagen 124. Laffaille 110. Untouched green patina. Perfectly struck and well centered. Extremely Fine. Very Rare and desirable type.
From a Swiss collection, privately purchased from Münzen und Medaillen AG on 12 September 1991, a few days before the sale of the Maurice Laffaille Collection (Münzen und Medaillen Auction 76, 19–20 September 1991), which included a specimen of the same type (lot 300), regarded as the finest known example and sold for 15,500 CHF.
Pausanias (III.18.3) notes that Aphytis was renowned for its sanctuary of Zeus Ammon, while Xenophon (Hell.V.3.19) records the presence of a temple devoted to Dionysos. The kantharos depicted on this coin alludes to that Dionysian cult.