Philip II - European Elk - Museum Gallery

February 2023

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Here Philip II, son of Philip I "The Arab", is shown, he also had 1000 Anniversary of Rome and the Saecular Games coins struck in his name. Many of the coins struck to celebrate these events of 248 A.D. depict the animals gathered by Gordian III for his anticipated celebration of Persian victory. These animals were then used as part of the Saecular Games. Others, including the she-wolf/Romulus & Remus theme celebrate the founding of Rome in 753 B.C.
OB: IMP PHILIPPVS AVG; Rx: SAECVLARES AVGG, antlered and bearded Elk standing left. "III" in exergue represents the 3rd officina or mint in Rome, out of the six that Philip established. Most references describe this as a goat (probably because of the beard) but the antlers and body form are wrong and the European Elk (similar to the N. American Moose) also sports a respectable beard on the males.
Silver Antoninianus, ~22 mm, 4.63 g, nice EF surfaces, Rome mint [3]; RIC 224 or 264a, S2568, Van Meter 13, C72, Vagi 2142.
There are 2 articles to VIEW & DOWNLOAD:
Saecular Games - Illingworth: [ link ]
The Roman Millennium - Holt: [ link ]
Animals Mark Roman Millennium - Vagi: [ link ]