Julius Marinus, Father of the Emperor Philip I

Triton XXI, Lot: 826. Estimate $2000. Sold for $1700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Divus Julius Marinus. Died circa AD 246/7. Æ (23mm, 5.60 g, 6h). Philippopolis (Arabia) mint. Struck circa AD 247-249. ΘЄΩ MAPINΩ, bareheaded bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder, supported by eagle standing right / ΦIΛIΠΠOΠOΛIT-ΩN KOΛ[ΩNIAC], Roma or Allat standing left, holding patera and spear, with shield at side; S C across field. Butcher, Two, pl. 25, 11; Spijkerman 2; Sofaer 2; SNG ANS 1402; De Saulcy 2. VF, earthen green patina.

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.