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January Signature Sale 3089 21-22 Jan 2021
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Ancients
Philip II, as Augustus (AD 247-249). AV aureus (20mm, 4.70 gm, 1h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 2/5, brushed, edge scuffs. Rome, AD 247-249. IMP•PHILIPPVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip II right, seen from behind / LIBERALITAS AVGG III, Philip I and II seated left on curule chairs, extending right hand, the elder in foreground holding scepter in left. RIC IV.III -, cf. 230 (antoninianus). Calicó -. Cohen -. Unpublished.
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 111 (24 September 2018), lot 198; Heritage Auctions 3016 NYINC (2 January 2012), lot 23176.
Born in AD 237, Marcus Julius Severus Philippus was seven years old when his father, Philip I, had him proclaimed Caesar. The elder Philip was a nobleman of Arab descent who had risen to the post of Praetorian Prefect in the reign of Gordian III (AD 238-244) before staging a successful coup against the young emperor while they were on campaign in Persia. Although the empire was beset with many troubles, the reign started off with some promise. Philip was a conscientious ruler that showed tolerance toward Christians and other persecuted groups. In AD 247, the younger Philip was elevated to the rank of co-Augustus, and together father and son presided over the Saecular Games that marked Rome's 1,000th anniversary in AD 248. However, in the following months turmoil on the frontiers led to a rash of attempted usurpations, prompting the elder Philip to send the general Trajan Decius to put them down. Instead, Decius was proclaimed emperor by his soldiers, who then marched against Rome. The two Philips gathered a legionary force and marched out to meet the usurper at Verona, but were defeated and slain in battle. An alternative account states that the younger Philip remained at Rome, but was murdered by the Praetorians once the outcome became known.
Gold coins dating from the reign of the two Philips are exceptionally rare, due to the increasing scarcity of precious metals in the mid-third century. This beautiful aureus displays an exceptionally lifelike portrait of the 10-year-old Philip II; the reverse, hitherto unknown as an aureus type but well known from silver and bronze issues, shows the two Philips preparing to hand out money to the citizens of Rome in celebration of Rome's "New Age" and the younger's elevation to the rank of Augustus.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-philip-ii-as-augustus-ad-247-249-av-aureus-20mm-470-gm-1h-ngc-choice-au-5-5-2-5-brushed-edge-s/a/3089-31066.s?type=CoinArchives3089
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 30000-40000 USD
Philip II, as Augustus (AD 247-249). AV aureus (20mm, 4.70 gm, 1h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 2/5, brushed, edge scuffs. Rome, AD 247-249. IMP•PHILIPPVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip II right, seen from behind / LIBERALITAS AVGG III, Philip I and II seated left on curule chairs, extending right hand, the elder in foreground holding scepter in left. RIC IV.III -, cf. 230 (antoninianus). Calicó -. Cohen -. Unpublished.
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 111 (24 September 2018), lot 198; Heritage Auctions 3016 NYINC (2 January 2012), lot 23176.
Born in AD 237, Marcus Julius Severus Philippus was seven years old when his father, Philip I, had him proclaimed Caesar. The elder Philip was a nobleman of Arab descent who had risen to the post of Praetorian Prefect in the reign of Gordian III (AD 238-244) before staging a successful coup against the young emperor while they were on campaign in Persia. Although the empire was beset with many troubles, the reign started off with some promise. Philip was a conscientious ruler that showed tolerance toward Christians and other persecuted groups. In AD 247, the younger Philip was elevated to the rank of co-Augustus, and together father and son presided over the Saecular Games that marked Rome's 1,000th anniversary in AD 248. However, in the following months turmoil on the frontiers led to a rash of attempted usurpations, prompting the elder Philip to send the general Trajan Decius to put them down. Instead, Decius was proclaimed emperor by his soldiers, who then marched against Rome. The two Philips gathered a legionary force and marched out to meet the usurper at Verona, but were defeated and slain in battle. An alternative account states that the younger Philip remained at Rome, but was murdered by the Praetorians once the outcome became known.
Gold coins dating from the reign of the two Philips are exceptionally rare, due to the increasing scarcity of precious metals in the mid-third century. This beautiful aureus displays an exceptionally lifelike portrait of the 10-year-old Philip II; the reverse, hitherto unknown as an aureus type but well known from silver and bronze issues, shows the two Philips preparing to hand out money to the citizens of Rome in celebration of Rome's "New Age" and the younger's elevation to the rank of Augustus.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-philip-ii-as-augustus-ad-247-249-av-aureus-20mm-470-gm-1h-ngc-choice-au-5-5-2-5-brushed-edge-s/a/3089-31066.s?type=CoinArchives3089
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 30000-40000 USD