I recently took a chance on an Ebay auction for a couple of Roman provincial coins which were not garnering much attention. I was able to pick up both for a song, but perhaps that is more due to their condition. Anyway, TIF helped me attribute this particular coin: PHILIP II Pentassarion OBVERSE: M IOVLIOC FILIPPOC, KAICAP below, confronted draped busts of Philip II & Serapis REVERSE: MARKIANOPOLEITWN, Aesklepios standing right, head left, leaning on serpent-entwined staff; E in right field Struck at Markianopolis 9.8g, 27mm Moushmov 858; Varbanov 2090 Marcus Julius Philippus Severus, also known as Philippus II, Philip II and Philip the Younger (238–249) was the son and heir of theRoman Emperor Philip the Arab by his wife Roman Empress Marcia Otacilia Severa. According to numismatic evidence, he had a sister called Julia Severa or Severina, whom the extant literary sources do not mention and a brother, Quintus Philippus Severus. When his father became emperor in 244 he was appointed Caesar. In 247 he became consul, and later elevated by his father to the rank of Augustus and co-ruler. His father was killed in battle by his successor Decius in 249. When news of this death reached Rome, Philip II was murdered by the Praetorian Guard. He died in his mother's arms, aged eleven years. Markianopolis or Marcianopolis was founded by Emperor Trajan (AD 98-117) and named after his sister Marciana (possibly Marcia) and was populated of mainly Greeks of Asia Minor origin and Thracians. Their trade consisted of pottery, metal processing, arms and glass. It issued coins from the reign of Commodus (AD 177-192) continuously through about AD 248 Philip II (AD 247-249) after it successfully repelled an attack by the Goths. It was partially destroyed in AD 250-251. In AD 447 it was attacked by Attila the Hun. Its ruins are in a village called Devnia (Reka Devniya or Reka Devnia).
Markianopolis certainly has bunches of interesting coins. Congratulations on a great pickup! That's a lot of bang for the buck.
=> man, I probably lost more than $5.19 just getting in and out of my truck last night!! Super fine pick-up, my thrifty ol' pal (oh, and you too, my sweet female coin-cohort) ... apparently you two coiners make a pretty fine super-hero-duo?! [ => Great addition!! (Happy Canadian Thanksgiving weekend!!)
Great price for a nice coin, nice to get bargains. Got one again lastnight myself and it was just ebay bucks that paid for it.
Oh, I forgot to add-in that I also have a pretty sweet PHILIP II Pentassarion example .... yah, but I probably paid about 60 times as much for my stupid example (Bing, Bing, Bing ... why is Bing so smart?!!) MOESIA INFERIOR, Marcianopolis. Philip II. As Caesar Æ Pentassarion AD 244-247 Diameter: 27 mm Weight: 13.73 grams Obverse: Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust of Philip II right, facing draped bust of Serapis left, wearing calathus Reverse: Serpent coiled left; E (mark of value) to right
That's one sweet serpent, Steve! Here's my best Markianopolis: MOESIA INFERIOR. Markianopolis Macrinus, with Diadumenian, 217-218 AD issued under governor P. Fu. Pontianus AE27, 12.3 gm Obv: AYT K M OΠEΛ CEV MAKPEINOC K M OΠE ANTΩNINOC, Laureate head of Macrinus left and bare head of Diadumenian right, vis-à-vis. Rev: VΠ ΠONTIANOV MAPKIANOΠOΛEITΩN, Artemis advancing right, hound at her feet, bounding right; holding bow and drawing arrow from quiver; E to left. Ref: Varbanov 1159 var. (obverse legend).
