PHILIP I Emperor of Rome AD 244 - 249 Antoninianus Presentation

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MARCVS IVLIVS PHILIPPVS was born near Damascus in about 204.  He married Marcia Otacilia Severa, and their son Philip II was born in 237.  Philip was Praetorian Praefect when Gordian III mysteriously died in 244 on the Sassanian campaign.  He was acclaimed Augustus, made a quick peace, and returned to Rome.  He ruled benevolently, engaged in a Danubian campaign, and celebrated the 1,000th anniversary of Rome in 248.  In 249 the commander in the Danubian region, Decius, was hailed as Augustus by his men.  Philip marched north, but was killed in the battle of Verona in August, 249.

  <CLICK HERE for more information on Philip I>

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Antoninianus is the modern name of the silver coin introduced by Caracalla at the end of 214 (its proper ancient name is unknown).  Although it weighed only about 50% more than a denarius the financially distressed government tariffed it at two denarii, which led to the disappearance of denarii about thirty years later. 

  <CLICK HERE for more information on the Antoninianus coin>

I have recently added a page to display and describe the different styles of obverse busts available on the antoninianii.  Click here to see this new page.

For a complete listing of known types, according to Seaby in "Roman Silver Coins" volume IV, and then adding Antioch variations found in Dr. Roger Bland's documentation, and lastly adding any specimens in this collection not found in either of the above,
         Philip I Imperial Antoninianii, (123),
         Otacilia Severa Imperial Antoninianii (27),
         Philip II Imperial Antoninianii (65). 

For a sampling of Provincial coins, issued for local usage by the thousands,
         Philip I Provincial Bronzes (87),
         Otacilia Severa Provincial Bronzes (14),
         Philip II Provincial Bronzes (42).

My few Imperial Bronzes are now available for viewing:
         Philip I Imperial Bronzes (17),
         Otacilia Severa Imperial Bronzes (6),
         Philip II Imperial Bronzes (5). 

Other Links

There is an informative site available which is dedicated to Antoninianii from Antioch during the reign of Philip.   Click here to see Thibaut's excellent site.

A site that I have had bookmarked on my browser forever and forgot to include here is a great site on the four years following Philip's reign.  Click here to go to Richard's very informative site.

An extremely well written article on issues of Philip from the Antioch mint and how to identify these issues.  Click here to bring up Jyrki's article.

Recent Changes

15 December 2009 - One new Philip I Antoninianus to compliment the "no reverse" error listed earlier.  This specimen is the "reverse only" equivalent.  See it at RSC 0A.

15 March 2009 - One new Provincial from Mesambria and a new AEQUITAS AVGG sestertius for Philip I.

31 December 2008 - Two new Philip II provincials to end the year.  First, a nice Deultum with Priest plowing field reverse and second, my first Philip II Alexandria issue, this one year four with Tyche seated reverse.

19 November 2008 - A new Philip I antoninianus from the Saecvlar Games series, this a rare Wolf facing to the right (RSC 177).  Also new today is another new Philip II Antioch issue, left bust, cuirassed with AEQVITAS AVG reverse (RSC 2v).

18 July 2008 - Added an interesting mule for Otacilia, this with the "AEQVITAS AVGG"  reverse.  Listed in RSC and RIC as "AVG" instead of "AVGG", I believe they are both in error.  I have listed this as RSC0a(v).

4 June 2008 - Another Philip I variant from Deultum, this the huntress Diana-hound reverse with an unusual right bust seen from the front.  Only one other of my Deultum pieces (an Apollo reverse) has this style bust.

31 May 2008 - One new Philip II provincial from Deultum with the Nemisis reverse holding a rod and scales.

28 March 2008 - Two new Philip I antoninianii, both unlisted.  The first is a ANNONA AVG reverse but with Aequitas pictured (RSC32v).  The second is a "IMP C M IVL PHILIPPVS P F AVG P M" obverse with a draped only bust (RSC113v). 

18 January 2008 - A new Philip II Antioch issue, this piece a cuirassed left-bust with Minerva reverse (RSC 34av).

3 January 2008 - Three new Philip I provincials to start off the new year.  First, two from Deultum, one with the Salus reverse and the second a slight variation to the Demeter reverse.  The third piece is a year III Dacia issue.

3 January 2008 - Two new Philip II provincials to start off the new year.  First a Deultum with the Mors reverse and the second is a year VIIII Viminacium issue.

9 December 2007 - A new Otacilia provincial from the Alexandria mint, this one from year three.

9 December 2007 - One new Philip I Deultum mint.  This one with Priest plowing field with a radiate bust.  The radiate bust for this issue is only listed for Philip II (with Caesar legend).

19 November 2007 - Added my first Antioch mint Otacilia Severa.  Listed only in Bland (Bland 57), now I need to look for the other six that are listed!!

19 November 2007 - One new Philip I specimen added, this one is unique combining the early Antioch obverse which celebrates the Persian peace with the Rome-mint ANNONA AVG reverse(UNK05).

19 November 2007 - Two new Philip II Antioch issues added.  The first a draped and cuirassed left-bust  with Concordia reverse (RSC 8) and the second a hybrid FIDES EXERCITVS with four standards (RSC 12).

1 November 2007 - First, a rare short legend Philip I  Antioch issue (RSC 155v).  Second, an unusual ancient counterfeit hybrid with IOVI STATORI reverse (RSC 70v) .

1 November 2007 - A new Deultum for Philip I brings his total to 34 varieties from this mint.

1 November 2007 - Added a nice Otacilia Severa fouree with the hybrid reverse of "SALVS AVG" (RSC 72).

10 October 2007 - Added a new version of Viminacium first year coin, this one a smaller denomination in orichalcum (brass).

28 September 2007 - An unusual coin for Philip I.  This one with a blank reverse, I am calling RSC 0.  It is either a test strike or an error coin struck with another flan.  Fun either way.

28 September 2007 - Another Heliopolis added today for Philip II, this one with colonist and two oxen.  Nice colorful coin.

10 September 2007 - A new Mesopotamia - Nisibis provincial for Philip II, this one with a ram in a wreath.

9 September 2007 - Added three new Alexandria coins, one from year 7 (L Z) for Philip I.

If you have any suggestions or comments, please contact me at: ancientjim@ettuantiquities.com.

The attached 19 pages of Philip I, 5 pages of Otacilia Severa and 9 pages of Philip II contain pictures and attributions for silver coins minted during the reign of Philip I.  Attribution numbers are from "Roman Coins and their values" by David R Sear (1988), "Roman Silver Coins" volume IV by H. A. Seaby (1982), "The Handbook of Roman Imperial Coins" by David Van Meter (1991), and "The Roman Imperial Coinage" volume IV part III by Edward A. Sydenham and C. H. V. Sutherland (1949).  Scarcity ratings are directly from R.I.C. and may be outdated with the material currently being found from the Eastern mints.

PLEASE READ ---  There are many coins missing as these are only those coins actually in my personal collection.  I am always looking to expand my collection.  If you have a "reasonably priced" collectable condition antoninianus for Philip or his family not listed in these pages, please contact me at: ancientjim@ettuantiquities.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part 1 - "ADVENTVS AVGG" through "P M TR P V COS III P P"    

Part 2 - "P M TR P V COS III P P" through "VIRTVS EXERCITVS"

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Last updated: 3 June 2007

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