Rarest Denomination for Philippopolis

259, Lot: 272. Estimate $150. Sold for $700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ARABIA, Philippopolis. Philip I. AD 244-249. Æ Assarion (19mm, 4.66 g, 12h). Struck at Antioch. Struck AD 247-249. Laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder / Helmeted head of Roma right within wreath. Spijkerman -; SNG ANS -; K. Butcher, “Two Related Coinages of the Third Century AD: Philippopolis and Samosata,” INJ 9 (1986-7), 5. Good VF, brown patina, light deposits. Very rare.

The neat fabric of Philippopolis’ coins is uncharacteristic for Arabia. This, combined with obverse die links with Zeugma and Antioch point to production at a central location, with Antioch being the most likely place.