Philip 1

Good catch! Coins of Philip I and other 3rd century emperors are readily available, attractive, and often have interesting reverses.

(On the tedious topic of grading: the three coins below are, at least in my eyes, good examples of what one might classify as EF, VF, and F.)


Philip I “the Arab,” Roman Empire, AR antoninian, 244–247 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG; bust of Philip the Arab, radiate, draped, cuirassed, r. Rev: LAETIT FVNDAT; Laetitia, draped, standing l., holding wreath and rudder. 24.5mm, 4.37g. Ref: RIC IV Philip I 36.


Philip I “the Arab,” Roman Empire, AR antoninianus, 244–247 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG; bust of Philip the Arab, radiate, draped, cuirassed, r. REV: ROMAE AETERNAE; Roma, helmeted, seated on shield l., holding Victory in r. hand and sceptre in l. hand; at side, altar. 21mm, 4.16g. Ref: RIC IV Philip I 45.


Philip I "the Arab," Roman Empire, antoninian, 248 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP PHILIPPVS AVG, bust of Philip I, draped and radiate, r. Rev: P M TR P V COS III P P, Felicitas standing facing, head l, holding caduceus and cornucopia. 22mm, 3.84g. Ref: RIC IV,3 Philip I 6.

 

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I think this coin is in XF condition , although the reverse is struck with a worn die.

 

As a general rule, I believe an XF (or EF) coin should have full detail separating the ear and the crown with interior detail on the rays of the crown as shown on Andres' example. On the reverse there will not be flatness on the body of the figure. A VF will still separate the ear but the rays may be just outlined without full interior details. On Fine, the ear will merge with the crown. I agree with the grades posted by Orielensis except with the note that the EF is marginal. Andres2 makes a good point that there are other factors like die wear that reduces detail. Modern graders have moved to separating wear from strike allowing them to call weakly struck or worn die coins EF when they have poor details. That is why most of us ignore grades advertised and want to see the coins themselves. Letter grades were important when coins were sold from unillustrated lists but today almost all are shown in photos leaving us with the only two grades that matter: 'I like it' and 'no, thanks'. The obverse of the Andres2 shows just how great one of these can be. I like it (a lot).

 

I'll drop my Philip.

ROMAN IMPERIAL, Philip I ('the Arab'). Denomination: AR Antonianus, minted: Rome, Italy; 244-247 AD
Obv: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG: Bust of Philip the Arab, radiate, draped, cuirassed, right
Rev: ANNONA AVGG: Annona, draped, standing left, holding corn-ears in right hand over prow and cornucopiae in left hand
Weight: 3.75g; Ø:21mm. Catalogue: RIC IV 29. Provenance: Ex private collection; acq.: 05-2019

Since this thread is on grading as well: I would say this one is pretty nice. I care little about grading: I do care about eye appeal and this one ticks a couple of boxes:
- nice patina, with cabinet toning
- manly, stern looking portrait
- sufficient detailled
- nice, broad flan

Annona looks like she's about to puke, though.


@dougsmit et al how would you grade this? As a 'I like it'?

 

She looks like a hamster.

 

yeah ... taking here gnome for a walk:

 

I like it for the reasons you stated but it does bring up another point of grading. Do we pay extra for 'fine style'? Would you rather than a more worn coin that had a face on Annona that was more Hollywood starlet and less hamster or do you acknowledge that later Roman mint staff varied a lot in ability and sometimes were forced to rush to a point that they did less than their best. I once worked for a guy that walked around yelling 'Faster, Faster'. We had another boss who insisted on 'Better'. When he passed, we all went to his funeral.

 

Philip I. 244-249 AD. AE Sestertius. (29mm; 21.30 gm). Obv: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Rev: Felicitas standing left, holding long caduceus and cornucopia. P. M. TR. P. III COS. P.P., S.C. in field. Like RIC 149, but no "II" after COS. RIC is incorrect in showing COS II, which only appears with TRP IIII. Magnificent patina.

 

A Philip I thread? I wish I'd noticed it earlier. Here are mine, plus a Philip II moose/North European elk, and (perhaps my favorite of them all) an Otacilia Severa hippopotamus. Not an EF among them, I believe -- the stag antoninianus might come the closest, and next perhaps is the Otacilia Severa -- but I like them all very much anyway!

All except the Annona, including the SAECVLARES AVGG reverses and the one AETERNITAS AVGG reverse, were issued in 248 AD in connection with the games commemorating the 1,000th anniversary of the founding of Rome.

Annona -- RIC IV-3 28c, RSC IV 25



Elephant -- RIC IV-3 58, RSC IV 17, Sear RCV III 8921



Lion -- . RIC IV-3 12, RSC IV 173, Sear RCV III 8956



She-wolf and twins -- RIC IV-3 15, RSC IV 178, Sear RCV III 8957



Stag -- RIC IV-3 19, RSC IV 182, Sear RCV III 8958



Antelope -- RIC IV-3 21, RSC IV 189, Sear RCV III 8959



Sestertius with stag -- RIC IV-3 160a (p. 89), Sear RCV III 9012



Philip II moose/North European elk -- RIC IV-3 224, RSC IV 72, Sear RCV III
9275



Otacilia Severa, hippo -- RIC IV-3 116(b), RSC IV-3 63, Sear RCV III 9160.

 

Exceptionnal !

Two years later....TRP V COS III


Philippus I, Sestertius - Rome mint, AD 248
IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, Draped and laureate bust of Philippus right
P M TRP V COS III PP, Felicitas standing left, holding cornucopiae and caduceus
18.71 gr
Ref : Cohen #149, RCV #9008

Q