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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 3101739, member: 19463&quot;]Recently Bing posted a thread on how we are guilty of making each other buy coins.&nbsp; This thread is a spin-off of that one.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>That thread made me think about coins I bought when I previously had been unaware of that type.&nbsp; This coin fits that description.&nbsp;&nbsp; I bought it at a show for $35 which struck me as plenty for a low grade Provincial but I had never seen the ram reverse and I do like animal coins.&nbsp; The city was Damascus which was otherwise not represented in my collection.&nbsp; As a result, I bought it.&nbsp; At the time, I probably showed it here but never researched it too deeply. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]785038[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>I did not realize at the time that there was a bit of disagreement regarding who is shown on the obverse.&nbsp; Obviously it is a Philip but is it the father or the son?&nbsp;&nbsp; I cataloged it as had the supplying dealer (since deceased) as Philip I.&nbsp; Now I see CNG in 2014 was quite insistent that it belongs to Philip II.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p><p><a href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=274697" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=274697" rel="nofollow">https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=274697</a></p><p>They say:</p><p><span style="color: #0000b3">A glance at the references above reveals how frequently this type is given to Philip I. As at Antioch to the north, the profiles on the portraits of father and son are nearly identical and the wear commonly encountered on bronze issues of both mints can make misidentification easy. But on better preserved specimens such as the current coin and previous lot, it is clear that the portrait is beardless. As such, the denominations at Damascus under Philip I fit the imperial hierarchy, with the senior emperor and empress being depicted on the larger coins and the junior emperor on the smaller.</span></p><p><span style="color: #0000b3"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #0000b3">Interestingly, Rosenberger attributes his coin no. 36 to Philip I, while giving no. 50 to Philip II. Both share the same obverse die as the current coin.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>This ID opens an old wound with me.&nbsp; I have never been comfortable with the concept that all beardless portraits must be the son.&nbsp; I see old features with or without hair on the chin as Philip I.&nbsp; I could accept the concept of intentional ambiguity at these Eastern mints so arguing which Philip was intended may not be meaningful.&nbsp; We can never prove intent from so long ago so arguing about it is pointless.&nbsp; I will point out that my coin is not the same die so it could be different from theirs.&nbsp; They are welcome to their opinion; I remain happy to be incorrect in their eyes.&nbsp; I&#039;m with the father.</p><p><br /></p><p>The CNG blurb mentions similar problems with Antioch mint coins.&nbsp; What do we have below?&nbsp; If there is no beard, this must be Philip II but the reverse dating suggests the father.&nbsp; Must be a mule?&nbsp; Hard and fast rules that work in Rome may not have been understood or followed in the rest of the world. I&#039;m comfortable with the concept that allows ambiguity in the East. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]785042[/ATTACH] </p><p>I or II below?&nbsp; I&#039;ll go for either. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]785045[/ATTACH] </p><p>Post what you will. Sheep (especially your example of this coin), Damascus, Philips, ambiguous coins, coin that you bought the first time you ever saw the type......it&#039;s all good. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=274698" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=274698" rel="nofollow">https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=274698</a></p><p>If no beard makes Philip I into Philip II should we not call a ram with worn off wool and horn a shorn lamb?&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie85" alt=":smuggrin:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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