Philip I Had A Fine As .... Well Maybe VG+ ... Better Than Most !

After having bagged a nice dupondius of Vespasian at a sweet price I could not help but look for something else to throw into the package. I am always a sucker for the combined shipping ruse ! Aren't we all ?

After the first century emperors (always #1) my other passion has always been the lowly As denomination. Especially the later hard to find ones of the mid 3rd century.

Herr Lanz made this possible by listing this decent specimen (Italian astronaut ?) which added a mere $24.99 to the bottom line !

AE As Philip I
Obv. IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG Laureate bust of Philip right
Rv. ANNONA AVGG S C Annona standing left holding corn ears and cornucopia modius at feet
SEAR 9042
10.48 grams 24-5mm
Rome AD245-7







As you may know within the next ten years the venerable As denomination all but vanished from the Roman monetary system. Numismatists debate whether some later issues are to be described as being either an As or a reduced sestertius. The fact that orichalcum was no longer produced and all issues became bronze rather than copper makes the debate all the more interesting.