Antoninian Philip I the Arab

The silver antoninianus of Philip the Arab (Marcus Julius Philippus, lived 204-249, reigned 244-249) was minted in 247. The antoniniani are Roman silver coins of two denarii, introduced into the Roman monetary system in the early 3rd century. The images and inscriptions on the obverse and reverse of the coin are clearly visible. The obverse depicts the right profile of the emperor’s head, with a beard, wearing a corona radiata crown and a robe draped over his shoulders. The rim of the obverse features the inscription IMP PHILIPPVS AVG. On the reverse there is a figure of a walking deer, facing left, with its head raised. On the rim, there is the inscription SAECVLARES AVGG. The Roman numeral II was placed under the deer’s legs. During the reign of Philip I, on April 21, 247 AD, was the 1000th anniversary of the founding of Rome. The emperor organized games, which included staged hunts in the arena. The figure of a deer is probably a reference to those events. Depictions of this animal can also be found on the reverses of coins of other rulers. They were used with the intention to entrust the ruler to the protection of Diana (Artemis in Greece), the goddess of hunting, but also the protector of healing springs and harvest.

Bartłomiej Rogalski