Divus Marinus

338, Lot: 220. Estimate $500. Sold for $850. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ARABIA, Philippopolis. Divus Julius Marinus. Died circa AD 246/7. Æ (28mm, 15.79 g, 12h). Struck circa AD 247-249. Bareheaded and draped bust right, supported by eagle standing right, head and tail left, with wings displayed / Roma seated left, holding in right hand two figures standing on eagle, spear in left;shield at side. Butcher, Two pl. 25, 10 (same obv. die); Spijkerman 1 (same obv. die); SNG ANS –. Fine, green patina. Very rare variety with eagle’s wings displayed.

The father of Philip I, Julius Marinus hailed from a small town in the province of Arabia (modern day Shuhba, Syria; the original name of the ancient town is unknown). Following the death of Marinus, Philip deified his father and had a temple to him built in his newly aggrandized hometown – now renamed Philippopolis and elevated to the rank of colonia.

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