Extremely Rare Adlocutio Scene

361, Lot: 791. Estimate $2000. Sold for $3500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THRACE, Bizya. Philip I. AD 244-249. Æ (34mm, 25.48 g, 7h). AVT M IOVΛ ΦIΛIΠΠOC AVΓ, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / BIZV HNΩN, Adlocutio scene: Philip I and Philip II on horses trotting right, raising hands toward ranks of acclaiming legionaries to right. Jurukova –; Varbanov 1560 (this coin cited). VF, tan patina, deep centering hole on obverse. Extremely rare.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 67 (22 September 2004), lot 1086.

A most remarkable and probably unique display of Roman military tradition—the emperor and his son are addressing their troops, not as a handful of soldiers, but in the disciplined formation of the Roman legion. This coin undoubtedly records a specific event in the area of Bizya. It is known that Philip spent at least a year early in his reign subduing Germanic tribes infiltrating along the Danube frontier, while a more shadowy event took place in 248, the supposed usurpation of Marinus in Moesia. This coin may represent the Danube legions re-affirming their loyalty to Philip and his son.