New Philipp Junior Sestertius - LIBERALITAS AVGG

It took my newest Sestertius three and a half months to receive the Italian government´s export permission, but today it finally was in the mail and I can upgrade my entry for Philip Junior.

The obverse of this Sestertius shows an age-appropriate portrait of eleven year old Marcus Iulius Severus Philippus Caesar after he was elevated to consul and the rank of Augustus (and formal co-ruler of the empire) by his father, the soldier emperor Philippus I Arabs, in 247:



IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG - Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip II right, seen from behind
LIBERALITAS AVGG III - Philip II and Philip I, wearing togas, seated left on curule chairs; each extending right hands; Philip I also holding scepter in his left hand; SC in exergue.
Sestertius, Rome 248
17,25 gr / 29 mmRIC 267a, Cohen 18, Sear 9279, Banti 1 (66 specimens)



According to the legend, the reverse pictures the third Liberalitas of the joint emperors. This by most accounts took place on the occasion of the Millennium Celebration of Rome in the year 248.

While the LIBERALITAS at first represented the donation of the congarium to the urban population of the capital, it more and more came to symbolize the donatives paid to the ever important soldiers. Philipp Junior is here shown as co-responsible for the imperial generosity.

The senior rank of the elder Philipp is not only demonstrated by him taking the more honorable place on the right and in front of his son, but also by the fact that he alone is wearing a scepter.

After his father had perished in battle against his successor Trajanus Decius in late September the following year, Philipp junior was murdered by the praetorian guard in the palace.

Show your Liberalitas and Philipp Junior coins!

 

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Oooh! Very nice coin with a great portrait and a less-common reverse type.

Here's one I bought at a coin show last year because I fell in love with its patina (the photo doesn't do it justice). It shows the most common reverse type:


Philip II as Caesar under Philip I, AD 244-247.
Roman Æ sestertius, 19.61 g, 28.3 mm, 11 h.
Rome, AD 245-246.
Obv: M IVL PHILIPPVS CAES, bare-headed and draped bust right.
Rev: PRINCIPI IVVENT S C, Philip II in military dress, standing left, holding globe and resting on spear.
Refs: RIC 256a; Cohen 49; RCV 9249; Hunter 14.

 

I never know whether to call this type of coin an antoninianus or a double denarius. My general rule of thumb is that if it looks mostly silver, like a large denarius, I call it a double denarius. If it is bronze, with or without a silver wash, I call it an antoninianus.

Anyway, here's my Philip, Jr.:

Silver Double Denarius
Rome mint, A.D. 244-246
Obv: M IVL PHILIPPVS CAES
Rev: PRINCIPI IVVENT - Philip II, standing right, holding globe and scepter
RIC 216(c)
22mm, 4.4g.

 

Mine was from a Frank Robinson cheap list. His alternative description of the reverse type: "LIBERALITAS etc, Thing 1 and Thing 2 seated left on curule chairs".


PHILIP II
AE Sestertius. 16.56g, 26.6mm. Rome mint, AD 249. RIC IV 267. O: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind. R: LIBERALITAS AVGG III, The Philippi seated left on curule chairs, each extending hand; SC in exergue.

 

Very nice antoniniani of Philip II! I like how you've contrasted the left-facing and right-facing figures of the princeps juventutis.

 

Here are some better pictures - under my kitchen lamp (instead of direct sun light):

 

Gotta love Frank's sense of humor!

 

Have to admit I sometimes buy the coins because of the descriptions.

 

Phillip II as Caesar, A.D. 244-246

AR Antoninianus, 25mm, 4.1 grams

Rome, A.D. 244-246

Obverse: M IVL PHILIPPVS CAES, radiate and draped bust right

Reverse: PRINCIPI IVVENT, prince standing left, holding globe and spear; to left, captive seated left

Reference RIC 219

From the Eng Collection

 

ancient coin hunter, that's the 1st time I've seen a captive at his feet for the coin type. Interesting reverse design that must be a scarce type.

 

These photos are an improvement.

 

Bing, nice photos with interesting style contrast.

 

This is my favorite Philip II portrait as Augustus, on a Antioch, Syria tet., 13.37 gm.

 

I just read that my OP coin is not from 248, even if the 3rd Liberalitas of the two Philippi may have taken place in connection with that year´s Millennium Celebrations, but more specifically was part of their 11th (and final) emission of 249 aD and from the 3rd officina of the Rome mint, which struck exclusively for Philipp II after his elevation to Augustus in 247 (Nr. 4 struck for Otacilia Severa and 1-2 and 5-6 for Philipp Senior).
By then the party was over and the Royal family had noticed something was wrong. The news of the usurpations of Pacatianus, Jotapianus and maybe Decius had reached the capital and it was hoped that the display of generosity might secure the loyalty of their subjects, while other types of this emission begged for the soldiers´ Fides Exercitus and hoped for the Fortuna Redux of the emperors after the inevitable showdown.

Do you know how the distribution of the officinae during this reign has been established? I don´t see any mintmarks here...

 

Julius Germanicus, I don't know if this info is of any use to you but Richard McAlee quotes from the RIC 4, Part 3, pp. 58-58, "some of Philip's Roman antoniniani also bear Greek letters for six officinae."

 

Nice big coin l, JG! I didn't have this coin with the OP was posted, so why not now with this thread resurfacing...


Philip II, AE As
Struck 244-246 AD, Rome mint
Obverse: M IVL PHILIPPVS CAES, Bust of Philip II, bare-headed, draped, right.
Reverse: PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Philip II, standing left, holding standard in right hand and spear reversed in left hand.
References: RIC IV 258b
Size: 25mm, 12.5g

 

That coin is beautiful. There is just something about a Tiber patina that I find so appealing. My next favorite color patina is the emerald green.

 

Very nice Phil-J Sestertius @Julius Germanicus ! Man, you are amassing Roman Quarters like crazy!

I do not have much bench-strength with this Emperor... perhaps, cuz I am really attracted to the REAL Philip II, the guy from Makedon...

This is my only one.

(For the life of me, I have a hard time with these later Emperors, designating CHILDREN as AUGUSTUS, Consuls, etc... no respect...)


RI Philip II 244-249 Nisibis Mesopotamia-farthest EAST Temple sinister left