Description
| Roman Republic. L. Marcius Philippus. Denarius, 56 BC, Rome mint. | |
| Obverse: | Head of Ancus Marcius, wearing a diadem, right, behind lituus, below ANCVS. |
| Reverse: | Equestrian statue right, at horse’s feet flower, standing on an aqueduct with five arches, to the left PHILIPPVS, within the arches AQVA MAR (ligated). |
| Dimensions: | AR, 3.85 g, 19 mm, 8h. |
| References: | Crawford 425/1; Sydenham 919; BMCRR Rome 3890. |
| Condition: | Obverse slightly off center, with one scratch, minor area of weakness on the reverse, beautiful light toning. About extremely fine. |
| Provenance: | From a private German Collection, acquired at Busso Peus 423 (2018), 268, from a private German Collection, acquired prior to 2014. |
| Comment: | This denarius has a particular interesting historical connection: On the reverse the equestrian statue of Q. Marcius Tremulus, which was situated in front of the temple of Castor in the Roman Forum, is depicted. He was consul in 306 BC, conquered the Samnites and captured Anagnia. For these successes this statue was dedicated to him. Even Cicero mentioned it. The statue of Marcius Tremulus was highly important to the Marcius Philippus family and appears three times in Roman republican coinage. On this coin, the statue is represented on an aqueduct, the Aqua Marcia. It was the longest aqueduct that supplied Rome with water. The aqueduct was built in 144-140 BC by Q. Marcius Rex and named after him. Later, the family claimed that it was only a restoration of a project by king Ancus Marcius, who is shown on the obverse. The Marcius Philippus family was not related to the king. The lituus on the obverse probably refers to the augurate of an ancestor of the moneyer.The moneyer L. Marcus Philippus – He was a supporter of Caesar, who made him Praetor in 44 BC, and also stepbrother of Octavian. In 38 BC he became consul. |
