Members will immediately recognize this coin as a common double denarius of Philip I (the Arab). The reverse is of Philip, seated holding a globe, surrounded by the usual titles, PP, TRP II, COS, PP. When I acquire coins, eye appeal is important to me and this is an example of a good portrait of an interesting character. Unfortunately the reverse is a mushy strike but since, for me, the obverse is usually more important than the reverse so I find it quite pleasing to view. It is also an example of a good ancient coin at a pretty low cost. Its weight is 4.65 grams
Nice one, @kevin McGonigal ! Here's a Philip from my collection with a Felicitas-with-a-Princess-Leia-hairdo reverse: Philip I The Arab, AD 244-249. Roman AR antoninianus, 3.8g, 23mm, 12h. Rome mint, AD 248. Obv.: IMP PHILLIPVS AVG; Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right, from behind. Rev.: P M TR P IIII COS II PP; Felicitas standing left, long caduceus in right hand, cornucopia in left. Refs: RIC 5; Cohen 137; RCV 8946 var. (obv. legend).
Very nice portrait with a pleasant toning. Here's my Arab, wife and son: Philip I A.D. 244-249. AR antoninianus(22.7 mm, 2.1 g,). Rome, A.D. 247. IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip I right / ROMAE AETERNAE, Roma seated left on shield, holding Victory on globe and spear. RIC 44b; RSC 169 OtaciliaSevera AR antoninanus, 244-249 CE Mint:Rome, 244-245 CE, 22mm x 25mm, 4.12g Obv: MARCIA OTACIL SEVERA AVG Diademed and draped bust right, with a crescent behind her shoulders. Rev: PVDICITIA AVG Pudicitia seated left, right hand drawing veil from face and holding a transverse sceptre in her left arm. Ref:RCV (2005) 9159; RICIV .. Philip II (AD 247-249). Silver antoninianus Antioch. IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped, cuirassed bust of Philip II right / CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia seated left, holding patera and cornucopiae. RIC 241 (R2) variant (bust l.)
I completely agree with you Kevin. I just recently acquired this very common Antoninianus of Gordian III for the same reasons - I just found "the look" of it to be so appealing. He looks like he is about to turn around and speak to us.
beauty's in the eye of the coin holder ..(and maybe also the influence of Cointalk members^^)..Phillips wife sestertius.
Nice coins! My personal thing with Romans is that it has to have a sharp, lifelike bust. I could care less about rarity, although historical significance is an added bonus. My example in my portrait collection is a rather ordinary Aequitas He is one of the few that I just *had* to double up on when I found this one in a job lot PAX FVNDATA CVM PERSIS = Trying to placate the indignant Romans that a 500,000 aureii tribute was a small price to pay for "eternal peace" with Shapur I.
That's a very nice Philip I portrait. The reverse is often the more important side for me, but in the case of this darkly-toned Decius, it was all about the portrait. TRAJAN DECIUS AR Antoninianus. 4.91g, 21.4mm. Rome mint, AD 249-250. RIC 12b; Cohen 16. O: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. O: DACIA, Dacia standing left, holding (Draco) staff surmounted with a wolf's head.
Pictured below are photos of a very common Greek tetradrachm from Aeolis, Myrina, c. 150 BC, 16.51 gm, that Heritage sold for me on January 16th of last year. The portrait of Apollo is done in very fine Hellenistic style. They chose to use the photos of my coin on the cover of their auction catalog. Apollo is also depicted on the reverse of the coin.
zumbly, That's a magnificent portrait of Trajan Decius ! You & TIF have the best portrait antoninianii of Decius that I've seen. I wouldn't be surprised if both dies were cut by the same celator. For comparison here is a vastly inferior portrait antoninianus from my collection.
Phillip I, Antoninianus. This one actually has rather nice toning. Struck in the joint reign with his son Phillip II, e.g., 247-249 A.D. 4.3 grams.
Thanks! Decius had some skilled die engravers working for him. I'd love to have that portrait on a double sestertius, but I'd probably need a bigger budget than I have. BTW, that Myrina tet is outstanding... it must have been hard to let go.
zumbly, Selling that Apollo tet was like getting a tooth extracted , it hurt for a while but I got over it. The coin was in my collection a long time & I've still got photos of it to enjoy. A few years ago I decided to liquidated all but a couple of my Greek & Parthian coins & focus on late Roman & provincial coins. Every now & then I'll stray from that focus but I've remained fairly disciplined .
