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Roman Emp., Philip II, Aureus 248

Currency:CHF Category:Coins & Paper Money / Coins: Ancient Start Price:24,000.00 CHF Estimated At:30,000.00 - 37,500.00 CHF
Roman Emp., Philip II, Aureus 248
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The Roman Empire, Philip II augustus, 247 – 249, Aureus 248, AV 4.90 g. IMP PHILIPPVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. SAECV LARES AVGG Low column inscribed COS / II. C 77 var. (not cuirassed). RIC 225. Calicó 3279 (this coin). Exceedingly rare, possibly the finest of very few specimens known of this intriguing issue. An absolutely unobtrusive metal flaw on reverse at eleven o’clock, otherwise good extremely fine Ex NAC 24, 2002, European Nobleman 175 and NAC 31, 2005, American collector, 88 sales. This aureus, is part of one of the most interesting series of coins of the 3rd century which was issued by Philip I, his wife and his son for the thousandth anniversary of Rome's foundation, Though archaeological evidence proves the hills of Rome were settled at least two centuries earlier than the legendary foundation date of 753 B.C. set by the sage Varro, the Romans considered that date gospel. The close of the millennium occurred, ironically, in the unsettling year 248 when four separate rebellions broke within the ranks of the army. However, none of them could lure Philip from the capital, where he initiated celebrations on April 21, and where he remained to witness the much-anticipated games later in the year. Public celebrations were accompanied by an ornamental series of coins inscribed SAECVLARES AVGG, MILIARIVM SAECVLVM and SAECVLVM NOVVM. Other coins inscribed AETERNITAS AVGG and ROMAE AETERNAE bear general relevance to the celebration. The reverse types are varied and exotic: a lion, gazelle, antelope, goat, stag, hippopotamus and elephant all relate to the games, whereas the she-wolf and twins, a low column (or cippus) and the temple of Roma Aeterna relate to the event in general, and to the hope that it would represent the beginning of a new age. Unfortunately it did – but the age was not to be happier, safer or more prosperous. Instead it would be more tragic, violent and unsettled. Were it not for the provincial tetradrachms struck for circulation in Antioch, the verdict on consulships held by Philip I and II would be a foregone conclusion: the father originally was consul in 245, and assumed the office for a second time in 247, and a third time in 248. In the two latter cases he shared it with his son, presumably in honour of his being raised from Caesar to Augustus in the first of those years. Both of these aurei were struck in 248, when Philip I was consul for the third time, and his son was consul for the second. These are the two highest consulships recorded on Imperial coinage for the Philips. However, on Antiochene tetradrachms we have a confusing scenario. To start, tetradrachms were struck for Philip II (both as Caesar and as Augustus!) with an inscription naming an unattested third consulship. As if that were not troublesome enough, both father and son have issues naming a fourth consulship. The evidence provided by the Imperial issues of Rome does not match up with that of the provincial coins of Antioch. Even the Imperial double-denarii struck at Antioch do not support the evidence provided by the provincial tetradrachms struck at the same mint. At present there seems no rational explanation for this incongruity, and it must be chalked up to a combination of imprecise knowledge at Antioch (i.e., they were one year ahead on consulship reckonings) and a presumption that the issues of Philip II naming his fictional fourth consulship are simply mules employing reverse dies intended for his father.