Roman Provincial: Philip II from Nisibis in Mesopotamia

[Parthicus]

Roman Empire, Provincial coinage.  AE 25.  Philip II, as co-Augustus under his father Philip I (247- 249 CE).  Obverse: Radiate and cuirassed bust left, legend in Greek AYTOK K M IOYLA PhILIPPOS SEB.  Reverse: City-goddess seated in tetrastyle (four-column) temple, symbol of Aries above her head, river god swimming at her feet, legend in Greek IOY SEP KOLW NESIBI MET.  Sear Greek Imperial 4157.  This coin: Pars Coins Bargain eSale 27, lot 122 (October 18, 2024).

There's not a lot of accomplishments to list for Philip II, though that's hardly his fault as he was just 12 years old when he died.  His father, Philip I, had been head of the Praetorian Guard when Gordian III died on campaign against the Sasanians in 244 (whether Philip I was responsible for the death is disputed), and promptly assumed the throne.  He elevated his 7-year-old son Philip II to the rank of Caesar, and in 247 promoted him to co-Augustus.  This was a peaceful few years for Rome, and in 247 the co-emperors celebrated the thousand-year anniversary of Rome.  But in late 248 and early 249 there were several rebellions along the frontiers, and in September 249 Philip I was killed in battle by Trajan Decius.  It is unclear if Philip II died in battle with his father, or if he was murdered afterwards by soldiers loyal to Decius.  The city where this coin was issued, Nisibis, was the capital of Roman Mesopotamia and served as a major point of contact between the Roman and Parthian/Sasanian Empires.  I bought this coin as my first coin of Philip II, and because its place of origin (on the border between Roman and Persian realms) fits in well with my collection themes.  Please post your coins of Philip II, or Nisibis, or whatever else is related.

 

[Roman Collector]

Lovely specimen, @Parthicus! Here's my Philip II from Nisibis.


Philip II, 244-249 CE.
Roman provincial Æ 23.8 mm, 8.42 g, 11 h.
Mesopotamia, Nisibis, 244-49 CE.
Obv: ΑVΤΟΚ Κ Μ ΙΟVΛΙ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟC CЄB, radiate and cuirassed bust left
Rev: IOV CЄΠ KOΛΩ NЄCIBI MHT, tetrastyle temple; statue of Tyche within, ram above Tyche's head, river god below.
Refs: BMC 22-23*; Sear GIC 4157; SNG Cop 240*; SNG Hunterian 2.
*BMC and SNG Cop erroneously attribute this coin to Philip I.

[AncientOne]

I like these Mesopotamian bronzes!

Here's a few Philip II's.

Cilicia, Tarsos. AE35. Philip I or II / Elpis

Bronze 35mm (21.94 grams) of Tarsus in Cilicia
AVT KAI IOV ΦIΛIΠΠON ЄVT ЄVC CЄ around, Π - Π in field, radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right.
TAPCOV THC MHTPOΠOΛEΩC AMK, Elpis (Spes) standing left, holding flower and pulling on skirt, Γ B across fields.

Philip I or Philip II as Augustus, same obv. die as Ziegler, Smaller German Collections, pl. 42, 799 ("Philip II"); SNG Paris 1730 ("Philip I"); and SNG Aulock 6062 ("Philip I").

"The light beard would speak for Philip I, yet the features look different and younger than other portrait dies at Tarsus that are definitely Philip I." -Curtis Clay

 

Pamphylia, Perga. Philip II AE23

Obv: ΑΥ Κ Μ ΙΟΥ ϹƐΟΥ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟϹ Ϲ(Ɛ); laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip II, r., seen from rear; below, globe.
Rev: ΠƐΡΓΑΙΩΝ; chest holding three purses.

 

Phrygia, Laodikeia ad Lycum. Philip II, as Caesar. Æ25

Obv: Μ ΙΟΥ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟϹ ΚΑΙϹ. Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip II, r., seen from front.
Rev: ΛΑΟΔΙΚƐΩΝ ΝƐΩΚΟΡΩΝ. Homonoia standing l., holding patera and cornucopia; at feet, lighted altar.
RPC VIII, — (unassigned; ID 20773)

 

Thrace, Bizya. Philip II, AE18. Eros

Obv: M IOVL FILIPPOC KAICAP, bare head right.
Rev: BIZVHNWN, Eros standing left, leaning on & extinguishing inverted torch.
Varbanov 1606.

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Very cool!  I enjoy these neat types, although I only have one.  I was drawn to the blue encrustations.

 

Philip II AE25 Nisibis, Mesopotamia.  Tyche in tetrastyle temple

Obv: Radiate and cuirassed bust left. AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CЄB.

Rev: Tyche seated facing; above, ram leaping right, head left; all within tetrastyle temple.  Below, River-god swimming right.  IOY CЄΠ KOΛΩ NЄCIBI MHT.  Find encrustation remains and can be carefully cleaned off or left as is.

SNG Copenhagen 240.  247-249 AD.

[expat]

Lovely provincials posted above. I missed out on a beauty of a provincial of Phillip II yesterday, our internet connection broke for a couple of hours. When it came back on I found I had been outbid by one increment. On well, life goes on. Here is my only Phillip II, an antoninianus of Rome mint

 

[Marsyas Mike]

I recently picked up the OP issue for mother - looking for die-matches on RPC is fun, if you like that kind of thing: 

Otacilia Severa Æ 24 (247-249 A.D.) Nisibis, Mesopotamia  ΜΑΡ ΩΤΑΚΙΛ ϹΕΟΥΗΡΑΝ ϹΕΒ, diademed and draped bust right, crescent at shoulders / ΙΟΥ ϹΕΠ ΚΟΛΩ ΝΕϹΙΒΙ ΜΗΤ temple with arched pediment and four columns enclosing draped, veiled and turreted Tyche seated facing, ram leaping right above; below, river god swimming right RPC VIII Online Unassigned ID 2575 (Average weight: 10.46 grams; Specimens: 56); SNG Copenhagen 244; BMC 27-32; Dura Hoard 8-9, 127; Chaix 966; Mionnet V, 182; Sear SGI 4065. (14.17 grams / 27 x 26 mm) eBay Oct.l 2024 $11.85 BIN

Die-Match Obv. & Rev.: Ashmolean Museum, Oxford Rueff Bequest (no other no.)

Die-Match Obverse:  Staatlich Museen, Berlin 18275041 Löbb

British Museum Inventory No. 1919,0516.6 BMC 31

British Museum Inventory No.  G2919 BMC 32

Here's a terrific site overview of coin types from Nisibis:   http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Nisibis/Nisibis.html

[JAZ Numismatics]

Excellent coins everyone! I have this dupondius-sized bronze of Philip II from Bostra commemorating the Actia Dousaria, a festival held every four years that combined the worship of the Nabataean chief deity Dushares with games in honor of Octavian's victory at Actium. These issues of Philip II are the only coins commemorating the festival. Not the most exciting coin in the world, but an important tidbit of ancient Arabian history...

Provincia Arabia, Philip II AE28, 14.85g; Bostra mint, 244-247 AD. Obv.: [MARC IVL] PHILIPPOS CESAR; Radiate bust right. Rev.: COL METROPOLIS BOSTRA; AKTI/A ΔOVC/APIA in wreath. Reference: Spijkerman 59, SNG ANS 1247-50.

Edited November 24, 2024 by JAZ Numismatics

[-monolith-]

I've posted these before but there so interesting I will post them again.

 

And a standard issue:

 

[Shea19]

Very nice!  I don’t have anything from Nisibis, but I can share this Philip II with temple reverse from Syria.
 

Philip II, Syria, Cyrrhestica. Cyrrhus. 247-249 A.D.   AE Octassarion (28 mm, 15.50) AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦΙΛΙΠΠOC CЄB Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip II to R., seen from behind. Rev. ΔIOC KATЄBATOY / KYPHCTΩN Hexastyle temple, containing Zeus Kataibates seated facing, holding thunderbolt and scepter; at feet to l., eagle; above pediment, ram leaping r. RPC VIII online ID 7844.