Second Known

Sale: CNG 79, Lot: 658. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 17 September 2008.  Sold For $612. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SYRIA, Coele-Syria. Damascus. Philip I. AD 244-249. Æ 29mm (20.98 g, 12h). IMP • M • IVL • PHIL-IPPVS • P • F AVC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / COL • ΔAM-A[...] METROP, Dionysus standing facing, head right, holding grape vines. SNG München -; SNG Copenhagen -; Rosenberger 49 corr. (Philip II; same dies). VF, green patina, light roughness. Extremely rare, apparently the second known, and better than the Rosenberger coin.

The portrait on the Rosenberger specimen has a more youthful appearance due to the higher amount of wear (hence the attribution to Philip II), but the present piece clearly shows that the portrait is that of Philip I.