Unpublished Hybrid

CNG 90, Lot: 1671. Estimate $300. Sold for $1000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Philip II. AD 247-249. AR Antoninianus (21mm, 4.46 g, 6h). Hybrid of Philip II and Philip I. Antioch mint. M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P III COS P P, Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopia. RIC IV –; Bland Study –; RSC –; Tulln Hoard –. EF, lightly toned, some deposits. Apparently unique hybrid.

While it is typical at Antioch for obverses of Philip II to be paired with reverses of Philip I, such “official” mules are of compatible dies (i.e. Philip I reverses with TR P IIII - TR P VI paired with obverses of Philip II as Augustus). However, Philip’s TR P III issues are only datable to AD 246, the year before Philip II was elevated to augustus. In fact, as Philip II was elevated in May or June, and Philip I was TR P IIII on January 1, the combination of these dies is very unusual, and likely a mistake on the part of the mint workers.