Philip I Tetradrachm, Antioch.

[Spaniard]

I'm thrilled to add this coin to my collection...

It's an area that I've become very interested in recently the type being big and chunky in hand. This is only my second example which imo has a great overall look, well balanced with subtle toning, it does heve some flattening of the legends but that actually appeals to me...Due to my inexperience of this type I did ask @Al Kowsky to take a look, he gave the thumbs up on this one, "Thanks Al"....

Here she is....

Seleucis and Pieria. Antioch. Philip I, 244-249 AD. AR Tetradrachm (10.97 gm, 27mm). Rome mint, for Antioch, 246 AD.

Obv.: AYTOK K M IOYΛ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ CЄB Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind.

Rev.: ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ЄΞΟΥCΙΑC / S - C / MON VRB, eagle with spread wings standing facing, head to left and holding wreath in beak; to upper right, Є.

McAlee 901e; Prieur 309; RPC VIII online 29027. gVF.

On the obverse is the portrait of the emperor himself, laureate with a cuirass and draped robe over his shoulders seen from behind, surrounded by the Greek legend AYTOK K M IOYΛ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ CЄB. Breaking this down further, the title reads, in shorthand AYTOK[ΡΑΤΟΡ] – K[ΑΙΣΑΡ] – M[ΑΡΚΟΣ] – IOYΛ[ΙΟΣ] – ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ – CЄB[ΑΣΤΟΣ], all of which translates as “Emperor and Caesar, Marcus Julius Philip, Augustus”. On the reverse is an eagle standing proudly with its wings spread and holding a wreath in its beak. Surrounding this is the legend ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ЄΞΟΥCΙΑC in Greek, meaning “The leader of the People, the Authority” – a byword in this case for the title Consul. Below this on either side of the eagle are the letters S – C indicating that the coin was struck with permission from, and under the authority of, the Senate in Rome. Finally, in the exergue are the Latin letters MON VRB, shorthand for Moneta Urbis, indicating the coin was struck in the “Mint of the City” in Rome.

Any extra info/corrections on the above description will be appreciated...

Please feel free to add your Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch, Tetradrachms I'd love to see them..

 

 

 

 

Edited August 1, 2022 by Spaniard

[Qcumbor]

Nice acquisition. I like so much Syro-Phoenician tetradrachms I don't mind a pile on thread about them

A few Philip the Arab from my tays :

Philippe Ier l'arabe (25/02/244-09/249) - Tetradrachme de billon de l'atelier d'Antioche, 244
ΑΥΤΟΚ Κ Μ ΙΟΥΛ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟC CЄΒ, Buste radié et cuirassé à gauche vu par l'arrière
ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞΟΥCΙΑC, Aigle de face, les ailes déployées, la tête a gauche, tenant une couronne dans son bec et une palme dans ses serres. A l'exergue SC

27 mm, 12.42 g, 1 h

Ref : Prieur # 313, McAlee # 893, BMC #512

Provenance : Leu web auction #14/1097

 

Philippe Ier l'arabe (25/02/244-09/249) - Tetradrachme de billon de l'atelier d'Antioche, 244 
ΑΥΤΟΚ Κ Μ ΙΟΥΑ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟC CΕΒ, Buste radié, drapé et cuirassé à droite vu par l'arrière
ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞΟΥCΙΑC, Aigle de face, les ailes déployées, la tête a gauche, tenant dans son bec une couronne. A l'exergue SC

10,66 gr, 27-28 mm

Ref : Prieur # 319, McAlee # 887

Provenance : vente privée 06/12/2015

 

Philippe Ier l'arabe (25/02/244-09/249) - Tetradrachme de billon de l'atelier d'Antioche, 248 
ΑΥΤΟΚ Κ M ΙΟΥΑ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟC CΕΒ, Buste radié, drapé et cuirassé à droite vu par l'arrière
ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞΟΥCΙΑC ΥΠΑΤΟ Γ, Aigle de face, les ailes déployées, la tête a droite, tenant dans son bec une couronne. A l'exergue ANTIOXIA / SC

11.60 gr

Ref : Prieur # 377_069, BMC #512,

Provenance : VSO Burgan 25/11/1991 

 

Philippe Ier l'arabe (25/02/244-09/249) - Tetradrachme de billon de l'atelier d'Antioche, 248-249
ΑΥΤΟΚ Κ Μ ΙΟΥΛΙ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟC CЄΒ, Buste radié et cuirassé à gauche vu par l'avant
ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ЄΞΟΥCΙΑC ΥΠΑ ΤΟ Δ, Aigle à gauche, les ailes déployées, tenant une couronne dans son bec. A l'exergue ΑΝΤΙΟΧΙΑ / S C

26 mm, 11.35 g, 7 h

Ref : Prieur # 431, McAlee # 954c

Provenance : Leu web auction #14/1103

Q

[DonnaML]

Lovely! Congratulations. 

Here's my example of a Philip I Antioch tetradrachm:

Philip I Billon Tetradrachm, 247 AD [Regnal Year 3], Syria, Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear, ΑΥΤΟΚ Κ Μ ΙΟΥΛΙ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟϹ ϹƐΒ / Rev. Eagle standing right, wings spread with left wing behind leg, head right and holding wreath in beak, ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ƐΞΟΥϹΙΑϹ ΥΠΑ ΤΟ Γ [= Year 3]; in exergue in two lines: ΑΝΤΙΟΧΙΑ/ S C. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. VIII Online 29005 [temporary ID number] (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/29005 ); Prieur 368 [Michel and Karin Prieur, Syro-Phoenician Tetradrachms (London, 2000)], McAlee 908 (ill. p. 335) (Series 4, Group (b), Type 2) [Richard McAlee, The Coins of Roman Antioch (2007)]. 26.5 mm., 10.40 g., 7 h.

As an aid in identifying and understanding Antioch tets like this one, owning a copy of McAlee (I found a used copy online) was extremely useful.

Here's my Philip II tetradrachm:

Philip II, billon Tetradrachm, 248-249 AD, Syria, Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind, AYTOK K M IOΥΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB / Rev. Eagle standing facing, head right, wings spread, holding wreath in its beak, ΔHMAΡX EΞ OYCIAC YΠA TO Δ [4^th consulship]; ANTIOXIA / S C in two lines below eagle.  Prieur 474 ; BMC 20 Syria 560 [Warwick Wroth, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 20, Galatia, Cappadocia, and Syria (London, 1899) at p. 218]; McAlee 1042 (Series 5) (ill. p. 353); RPC VIII No. 29020 (https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/29020).  27.15 mm., 14.00 g.  Ex. CNG Electronic Auction 466, April 22, 2020, part of Lot 728.

Here are a couple of others:

Caracalla Billon Tetradrachm, COS. IV, AD 213-217 [McAlee pp. 6, 270: probably ca. 216-217; see third fn. below], Antioch ad Orontem, Seleucis and Pieria,* Syria Province. Obv. Laureate head right, [ΑΥΤ]•Κ•Μ•Α• •ΑΝΤΩΝЄΙΝΟC [CЄΒ] / Rev. Eagle with wreath in beak, head right, and wings spread, standing facing on leg and thigh of sacrificial animal,** ΔΗΜΑΡX•ЄΞ• ΥΠΑ• ΤΟ• Δ• [equivalent of TR P COS IV (fourth consulship)] around, •Δ•-• Δ • [Delta – Epsilon***] across upper fields. McAlee 681 (ill. p. 271), Prieur 224, Bellinger 19 [Alfred R. Bellinger, The Syrian Tetradrachms of Caracalla and Macrinus, American Numismatic Society (Numismatic Studies No. 3, New York, 1940)]. 13.49 g., 25 mm., 12 h. Purchased from Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Auction 96, 5 May 2022, Lot 739. [Footnotes omitted.]

Trajan Decius, billon Tetradrachm, 249-251 AD, Syria, Antioch Mint. Obv. Radiate bust right, three pellets below (•••) (= 3^rd Officina), ΑΥΤ Κ Γ ΜƐ ΚΥ ΔƐΚΙΟϹ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ϹƐΒ / Rev. Eagle standing left on palm branch, head left, wings spread, wreath in beak, ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ƐΞΟΥϹΙΑϹ [= Tribunicia Potestas], in exergue: S C. [Group II, Officina 3.] RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Online IX 1644 (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/9/1644 ); Prieur 540 (11), McAlee 1120c (Group 2) (see p. 368), BMC 586. 24 mm., 12.85 g.

 

Finally, here's a Septimius Severus tetradrachm with a similar appearance. However, it's from Tyre rather than Antioch, and isn't listed in McAlee:

Septimius Severus, Billon Tetradrachm, AD 209-211, Phoenicia, Tyre. Obv. Laureate head right, AYT KAI CEΠ CEOYHPOC CE / Rev. Eagle standing facing upon club right, with spread wings and head to left, holding wreath in his beak; between legs, murex shell, ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞ ΥΠΤΟC ΤΟ Γ.  27 mm., 13.83 g, 11 h.  Prieur 1533. Purchased at Nomos Obolos Auction 22, 6 March 2022, Lot 576.  Obverse die match to example of Prieur 1533 sold at CNG E-Auction 443, Jan. 5, 2019, Lot 422, ex. Freeman & Sear FPL [fixed price list] 1, 1994, A261. Reverse of this coin, including dots in legend, is die match to Prieur 1534 [obverse of 1534 differs from 1533 in that bust on 1534 is draped and cuirassed]. This coin is one of only three known examples of Prieur 1533: this coin, the coin sold by CNG in 2019 (ex Freeman & Sear), and Prieur 1533 itself (ex. M&M FPL 250, Dec. 1964/Jan. 1965, # 95).

 

On the one hand, I think these large billon tetradrachms with eagles on the reverse have a lot of visual appeal. The portraits can be quite beautiful, and I'm glad I have the ones I do. On the other hand, the basic design of all the reverses is so similar that my interest in buying many more of them is limited. On the third hand, that never stopped me back in the day from trying to obtain at least one British crown and gold sovereign per ruler, even though the St. George & the dragon reverses are all basically the same!

[shanxi]

Nice Tet ! Here is the family.

 

Philippus I.
Syria, Antiochia
Billon tetradrachm
Obv.: ΑΥΤΟΚ Κ Μ ΙΟΥΛΙ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟC CΕΒ, radiate and cuirassed bust left
Rev.: ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞ ΟΥCΙΑC ΥΠΑΤΟ Γ, eagle standing right, with wings spread, holding wreath in beak.
Billon, 11.35g, 26x27mm
Ref.: Prieur 354

 

Philippus II.
Syria, Antiochia
Billon tetradrachm
Obv.: AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: ΔHMAPX EΞOYCIAC YΠATO Δ. Eagle standing head left, holding wreath in beak, ANTIOXIA SC
Ref.: McAlee 1045, Prieur 466
Billon, 11.79g, 25.9mm

 

 

Otacilia Severa
Syria, Antiochia
Billon tetradrachm
Obv.: MAP ΩTAKIΛ CEOVHPAN CEB, Diademed and draped bust on crescent left
Rev.: ΔHMAPX EΞOVCIAC VΠATOΓ, Eagle standing facing, head right, holding wreath in beak, ANTIOXIA SC
Billon, 11.67g, 26.2mm
Ref.: Prieur 381

[wittwolff]

I ❤️ those tets 🙂

[Spaniard]

Wow! Some beautiful coins posted thanks!

@Qcumbor...Lovely group! I notice all your examples are radiate is this on purpose?...Rarer or more common?

2 hours ago, DonnaML said:

As an aid in identifying and understanding Antioch tets like this one, owning a copy of McAlee (I found a used copy online) was extremely useful

Would you mind telling me how much it was?.....Beautiful coins and the portrait on the Septimius Severus is stunning!....

@shanxi....Super smiling Octacilia Severa portrait!

@wittwolff Nice coin...Description?

Edited August 1, 2022 by Spaniard

[DonnaML]

@Spaniard, thanks. I don't remember the price for McAlee, but will take a look later to see if I saved an email mentioning how much I paid.  

[DonnaML]

2 hours ago, DonnaML said:

@Spaniard, thanks. I don't remember the price for McAlee, but will take a look later to see if I saved an email mentioning how much I paid.  

Just under $100, in like new condition. A lot, but I thought it was worth it.

[Al Kowsky]

I have a number of tets of Philip I & family that have been posted before, so I'll post only the very first tet of Philip I that's been in my collection for about 50 years. I frequently used the coin in advertisements when I had a coin & antique business in Rochester, NY.

 

[Curtis JJ]

Great looking Tetradrachm! Love the portrait and the eagle! Both very distinctive and artistic.

This in an area of my collection that is lacking, AR / BI Tetradrachms of the Roman East. I do have a Philip II (i.e., Jr.) Tetradrachm from Antioch. But now I'm kicking myself because I put it in the safety deposit box without photographing or cataloging it properly (it arrived just before I was leaving town).

If it's okay to step a bit outside the lines, I enjoy collecting the Provincial coins of the "The Philipii" generally (I've just somehow neglected the Eastern Tets). Here's a Philip I Tetradrachm -- even has an eagle reverse like the OP coin -- it's just from Egypt, Alexandria:

Philip I, Alexandria Potin Tetradrachm, Year 3 (245/6 CE). RPC Temp. 2796 (ex 38), ex JSW.

Below is the auction image (edited) showing (most of!) my Antioch Tetradrachm for Philip Jr. (as pathetic as that is LOL!). I wanted all these types anyway, but it was a special bonus that they were from the collection of one of my favorite numismatic authors, Elvira Clain-Stefanelli (1914-2001):

Edited August 1, 2022 by Curtis JJ

[Qcumbor]

2 hours ago, Spaniard said:

@Qcumbor...Lovely group! I notice all your examples are radiate is this on purpose?...Rarer or more common?

No, just opportunistic buys

Q

[wittwolff]

5 hours ago, Spaniard said:

@wittwolff Nice coin...Description?

Antiochian Tetradrachm from the reign of Emperor Philip I. - Year 249 (His 4th consulship)

Obv.: AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB

Rev.: ΔHMAΡX EΞOYCIAC YΠATO Δ

One of my personal favorites from my collection 🙂

[Spaniard]

Very nice @Al Kowsky...It's really cool how you've kept you very first Tet.....Looking on the date of the advert you must've noticed a serious price increase?

@Curtis JJ...Lovely Alexandrian tet..I received a copy of Emmett for Christmas and is an area I will be collecting more in.

Here's my only other that started my interest last year...It was a Secret Saturnalia gift from I still don't know who?...

SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Antioch. Gordian III, AD 238-244.
AR Tetradrachm, 28mm, 13.7g, 6h, struck AD 238-240.
Obv..Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev..Eagle standing facing with spread wings, head turned to left, holding wreath in beak. //SC
McAlee 862.....Prieur 279.

[Roman Collector]

Nice one, @Spaniard! I only have one of his wife:


Otacilia Severa, 244-249.
Roman provincial AR tetradrachm, 12.23 g, 25.1 mm, 7 h.
Syria, Seleucis & Pieria, Antioch ad Orontem, AD 245.
Obv: ΜΑΡ ΟΤΑΚΙΛ CΕΟΥΗΡΑ CΕΒ, diademed and draped bust, right.
Rev: ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞΟΥCΙΑC ΥΠΑΤΟ Α, eagle on palm, left, tail right, SC in exergue.
Refs: McAlee 1088; Prieur 341; BMC 541.