Another CT inspired purchase...

I would guess that about 50-75% of the coins I purchase are related to a thread (or the subsequent posts) on Coin Talk. Probably closer to 75% if the 'reminder' factor of a coin I already had in mind is factored into it and this Antoninianus of Philip the Arab falls within the latter category. Just as threads of 'Legionary' denarii and their restoration issues featuring military standards was posted, I stumbled upon this Ant at auction.

The coin itself is well centered and exhibits sharp details, but appears a bit porous, suggesting it is well within the lower silver content of about 40%. It is 'heavy' and weighs 4.37 grams. It still surprises me to see such a wide variance in weight, from the same mint, within a relatively short period of time. In just a few years, Antoninianii of this series---from the Rome mint---ranged from as light as 3.2 grams to as high as 5.4 grams. The following graphic displays a simplified visual of the silver debasement and I highly recommend clicking on the link below to access Doug Smith's informative and easy to read treatement of that topic and the various denominations that followed.


EDIT: The visual won't up-load...It displayed a photo of a coin from the decades 240 AD to 270 AD indicating a general debasement of 40% silver to less than 5%

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/denom.html


AR Antoninianus of Philip I "the Arab" 244-249 AD., - IMP PHILIPPVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / FIDES EXERCITVS, four Legionary Standards, one of which is an Aquila (4.37 grams, 24/22 mm) Rome mint 247-249 AD., RIC IV 62 RSC 50, Extremely fine, bright silver, bold strike and strong portrait



As always, please feel free to post anything relevant.....

 

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Wonderful specimen

 

Great looking coin, congrats Mikey.

 

Nice coin, especially the reverse.

 

a sharp philip ant MZ.

 

Nice one Mike.

Got one of these but a different flavor.

 

Beautiful capture @Mikey Zee ! Looks like he has that look from the line in Ventura Highway by America... ..."Chewin' on a piece of grass, walkin' down the ro.o.oad..."



Ok, that aside...

My Philip I:

RI Philip I 244-249 CE AR Ant radiate zoo Antelope 1000 yr anniv Rome

I like this Antelope... it is not for sale, but like discussed before, I will let it go for $1,000,000 to @Sallent if he ever needs it...

 

Sweet coin

It's making me hungry though.


Caprese kabobs with balsalmic reduction


Beef kabobs


HoHo fruit kabobs (I'd substitute Little Debbies )

Looks like I have a low number of coins with standards. Here's a double kabob denarius:


Caracalla, 198-217 AD
Rome, struck 215 AD
AR denarius, 19 mm, 3.8 gm
Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, laureate head right (looks like GURM instead of GERM)
Rev: PM TRP XVIII COS IIII, Fides standing left holding two standards
Ref: RIC 266, RSC 315, BMC 143

 

LOL, I started out with "What-th-HECK TIFFY???" then got the Standards...


RI Trajan AR Denarius 98-117 CE 3 Standards


RI Constantine II 337-340 CE AE3 GLORIA EXERCITVS Glory to the Army 2 Soldiers 2 Standards

 

Lol... now we will only ever see these as kabobs.

Nice coin, @Mikey Zee. Whenever there's a choice between two kabobs and four, always go for four .

No kabobs for the twins...

 

They don't need kabobs. They have kaboobs

 

yummy kabobs all round!

 

ahaha! u crack me up><

 

Sweet score @Mikey Zee !

The kabobs I'm used to were much different...anyway...this forum has been a huge influnce on my collecting habits as well. In fact if it wasn't for the historically interesting and amazing coins of this fine community, I may not even collect ancients!

I love ancient history and I'm also extremely interested in military history in general. I don't have your coin, but I have some coins that really spoke to me from each of those collecting themes I'll share that are relevant here:

One of the two coins I purchased that made me a "serious" ancients collector:

Philip I, AD 244-249
AR, Antoninianus, 3.7g, 21.5mm; 1h; Rome, AD 247
Obv.: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG; radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right Rev.: P M TR P IIII COS II P P; Felicitas standing left holding caduceus & cornucopia.

This one is a Philip that crossed into the military collection:

Philip I, AD 244-248
AE, 15.1g, 28mm; 6h; Viminacium, AD 248
Obv.: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG; laureate, draped, & cuirassed bust right
Rev.: P M S COL VIM; Moesia standing, looking left between bull and lion
In Ex.: AN VIIII

Here's a military standard reverse that I really like, that has nothing to do with Philip, and will hopefully make @Sallent have a strong swing of some cheap or tasty Cuban booze:


Constantine I, AD 306-337
AE, Follis, 4.48g, 22mm; 6h; Rome, AD 312-313
Obv.: IMP CONSTANTNVS PF AVG; laureate draped bust right, seen from behind
Rev.: SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI; legionary eagle between two vexilla
In Ex.: R P

 

Great coin!

 

Wonderful posts everyone!!

LOL!! I see @TIF was on a roll LOL.....Like @Alegandron, it took me a few seconds to get the 'kabob' post LOL...but for some odd reason the 'kaboobs' was perfectly clear to me

Since I'm back, I'll throw in one of Aemilian.....but only two standards

 

Nice coin! I like the portrait in your coin. I want to know what he saw to make that grin??? I wanted one of these in profile, but could not find one.

you see more of the nose in this one, Astin musy have been Roman.

 

epic LOL!!!

 

Man I love that reverse!

 

It's a soulless wretch who doesn't love the Legions, Mikey. Great standards on your examples. Well played!