Philip I Arab AD 244-249. Rome
Antoninianus AR

23 mm, 4,65 g

IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / AEQVITAS AVGG, Aequitas standing left holding scales and cornucopia.

Nearly Extremely Fine

RIC 27b; RSC 9; Cohen 9.

Philip the Arab, born Marcus Julius Philippus around AD 204 in the Roman province of Arabia Petraea (modern-day Jordan), was a Roman emperor who ruled from AD 244 to 249. He is one of the more intriguing figures of the late Roman Empire, known for both his origins and his reign during a time of increasing instability. Philip’s rise to power was rapid and somewhat unusual. He began his career in the Roman bureaucracy and military, eventually becoming Praetorian Prefect under Emperor Gordian III. In this powerful position, Philip was involved in military campaigns against the Sassanid Empire in the East. During one of these campaigns, Gordian III died under mysterious circumstances, possibly as a result of a mutiny or assassination, though some sources imply Philip’s involvement. With Gordian’s death, Philip was proclaimed emperor by the troops in AD 244. As emperor, Philip sought to consolidate his power and secure the frontiers of the empire. He negotiated a peace with the Sassanid ruler Shapur I, ending the costly conflict in the East, and paid a large tribute to ensure the stability of the eastern provinces. This move was pragmatic but also controversial, as it was seen by some as a humiliating concession. One of the most significant events of Philip’s reign was the celebration of Rome’s millennium in AD 248, marking the 1,000th anniversary of the founding of the city. Philip organized grand games and festivities across the empire to commemorate the event, which were intended to bolster his legitimacy and connect his rule with Rome’s glorious past. Philip’s reign, however, was troubled by internal dissent and external threats. He faced several usurpations and rebellions, the most significant being the challenge from Decius, a prominent general. In AD 249, Decius was proclaimed emperor by his troops and marched against Philip. The two armies met in battle near Verona, where Philip was defeated and killed. His son, Philip II, who had been co-emperor, was also murdered shortly afterward in Rome. Philip the Arab’s legacy is mixed. On one hand, he was an able administrator who sought to stabilize an empire in turmoil, and his reign was marked by relative peace and prosperity. On the other hand, his rise to power and subsequent rule were marred by suspicions of treachery and weakness, particularly in his dealings with the Sassanids. His downfall at the hands of Decius marked the continuation of the Crisis of the Third Century, a period characterized by frequent changes of rulers, civil strife, and external invasions that severely tested the resilience of the Roman Empire.