Philip II Barehead

I acquired this bronze of Philip II Which was struck in Antioch, with Tyche on reverse. Beside having a bareheaded bust, the coin has an original denomination of 8 Assaria. Was it so common and just between a Tetradrachm and a Sestertius ? BMC 564. The coin weighs 17.13 g.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

My Philip II is bare-headed, too.

Philip II as Caesar, 244-246 A.D.
Sestertius, AE29 mm., 14.9 gm.,
Obv: M IVL PHILIPPVS CAES, Draped bare head right,
Rev: PRINCIPI IVVENT S-C, Emperor standing left with globe and spear.
RIC Rome 256a; Cohen 49; Sear 9249

 

Your coin is early when he was Caesar but not yet Augustus. We see many more later ones. My early is a poor silver tetradrachm.

 

My Philip is also bareheaded, but Serapis seems to have some head-gear

All I can offer about the 'assarion' is this link;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_(Roman_coin)

 

At least your Philip II looks like a boy, which is accurate. Mine looks like a 40 year old man.

 

here's mine!

 

Interesting OP coin, one doesn't see an 8 Assaria everyday.
Same reference as Topcat's here, early and barehead too


Philippus II, Sestertius Rome mint, ca AD 245/246, 5th emission, 3rd officina
M IVL PHILIPPVS CAES, draped bust of Philippus right, seen from behind
PRINCIPI I VVENT, Philippus II standing left, leaning on spear and holding globe
20.1 gr
Ref : RCV #9249, Cohen #55, RIC #256a

Q

 

Philip II & Serapis
AE 26mm 11.19g
Mesembria, Thrace.
MAP IOVLIOC FILIPPOC KAICAP
bare head of Philip right, facing draped bust of Serapis left, in modius
MECAMBRIANWN
Hygieia standing right, feeding serpent.
Moushmov 4044; Mionnet 874; Varbanov 4291.

 

The photo of the last reverse does not match the description. I see MECAMB PIANwN

 

Thanks for pointing it out, I will do some research.

 

Cut and paste can be very handy, it has some disadvantages when you are not paying attention!

 

I do not have a Philip II full size from Tomis to demonstrate the legend but I will show a Philip II Tomis one and a half assaria which is my only coin of this denomination.

...and a Gordian III from Tomis. This is a 4 1/2 assaria. Tomis was the big user of the "and a half" denominations.

 

I am embarrassed to post mine which is very pitted, textured and 15.5 grams, but I know there are many examples existing between a Tetradrachm and a Sestertius.

 

Sallent,

Yours looks like a 40 year old man because your coin is Philip I, not Philip II.

Barry Murphy

 

Well, that's interesting. I was sure that it was Philip I, but @John Anthony thought it was Philip II, so I bought it from him as a Phillip II and left it at that (after all, I'm a relative newbie at ancient coins).

Philip I or II, it's still a cool coin.

 

I apologize. I just looked at your photo again and now think I can read CAES at the end of the legend. I thought I read AVG when I looked at it first, but upon closer examination, I must have been mistaken.

Barry Murphy

 

No problem. Thanks

 

Cool OP-example, 7Charles ...

=> here is my Phillip-II Sestertius


Oh, and I have this ol' example too ...