★ VICTORIA CARPICA ★

Philip I, 244-249. Antoninianus (Silver, 24 mm, 3.26 g, 11 h), Rome, 247-249. IMP PHILIPPVS AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip I to right, seen from behind. Rev. VICTORIA CARPICA Victory advancing right, holding wreath in her right hand and palm over her left shoulder. Cohen 238. RIC 66. Rare. Nicely toned. Very fine.

This issue was struck to commemorate a Roman victory over the Carpi, a 'barbaric' tribe in eastern Dacia that had started a series of invasions in the 240s. Philip's campaign can not have been overly successful as the Carpi continued to cause problems in the area for another twenty-five years before Aurelian finally defeated them in 272. They rebelled again in the late 3rd century and were mentioned several times by later historians before disappearing from our records in the late 4th century. It is likely that the Carpathian mountains were named after the Carpi.