AR Antoninianus 244-247 AD

I agree.

Here's one I bought recently. Not in brilliant nick, but still collectable (IMHO).

Obverse Philip I radiate bust. Reverse Mars standing leaning on his shield bearing an olive branch(?)

What's Mars doing with an olive branch?

Philip I AR Antoninianus. 248 AD. IMP PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right / P M TR P V COS II P P, Mars standing left, holding branch & resting hand on shield, A in left field. RSC 145.

Nice coin. Could be that he was looking for an end to war whcih was hitting Philip from all sides, one reason why he became unpopular is that he chose to pay off enemies rather than fight...this could be peace being offered to enemies? assuming it is an olive branch. Dont know.

Here is an example I have:



A.D. 244-249 (IMP) Philip I (the Arab) – AR / Antoninianus / RIC 38b/ Sear 2561 / IMP M IVL PILIPPVS AVG / Radiate draped bust right / LIBERALITAS AVGG II / Liberalitas standing left with abacus and cornucopiae / Rome Mint

real quick bio of this General / Emperor:

http://www.cachecoins.org/philipthearab.htm

A good question. Drusus gives a fair shot at the answer methinks !

There's a nicer example of my one on Wildwinds. It is quoted as being COS II PP but (like mine) it looks to me to be decidedly COS III PP. Check it out for yourself :

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear5/s8949.html#RIC_0007

Now that is a really nice example! Thanks for sharing.

Ian

Spectacular coin.

You are right, without doubt, it is COS III.