259, Lot: 273. Estimate $100. Sold for $950. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ARABIA, Philippopolis. Otacilia Severa. Augusta, AD 244-249. Æ 8 Assaria (28mm, 16.11 g, 6h). Struck at Antioch. Struck AD 247-249. Diademed and draped bust right, resting on a crescent / Roma or Allat seated left on shield, holding two figures (Divus Marinus, the grandfather of Philip II, and his deified wife?) standing on eagle and spear. Spijkerman 5; SNG ANS -; K. Butcher, “Two Related Coinages of the Third Century AD; Philippopolis and Samosata,” INJ 9 (1986-7), 9. VF, dark brown patina, slight earthen deposits.

The neat fabric of Philippopolis’ coins is quite out of place for Arabia. This, combined with obverse die links with Zeugma and Antioch point to production at a central location, with Antioch being the most likely place.

Meshorer, in SNG ANS, identified the figures on the eagle as the Dioskouroi, but it is possible that they represent either Philip I and Philip II or, perhaps even more likely, Julius Marinus and his wife.