Weighing 18.35 g., the following coin was struck in Philoppopolis of Syria-Arabia under Emperor Philip I the Arab. Reverse has Roma seated left, holding scepter with her left hand and something like a pigeon in her right hand. Spijkerman 3. I don't know why this coin is considered as a biblical coin. Please post a comment, if you have. Thanks..
There is a literary tradition that says Philip my have been a Christian...first written about by the historian Eusebius... "Among early Christian writers, Philip had the reputation of being sympathetic to the Christian faith. Probably for this reason, it was even claimed by some that he had converted to Christianity, which would have made him the first Christian emperor. He supposedly tried to celebrate Easter with Christians in Antioch, but the bishop Saint Babylas made him stand with the penitents. Philip and his wife received letters from Origen...
Indeed -- the town is never mentioned in the Bible because it seems to have been founded by Philip I (the Arab) in the mid third century CE. I guess it's simply because it's a city in "the holy land."
Nice AE, @7Calbrey ! That is a hefty coin! PHILIP I The Arab I regret that I do not have AE's of his. I kinda like the Fractionals. RI Philip I 244-249 CE AR Ant radiate zoo Antelope SAECVLARES 1000 yr anniv Rome
Thank you. Today the town is known as " Shahba" about 87 Km. South of the Syrian capital Damascus. I wonder what were the boundaries of the Holy Land?
