Philip the Arab

Philip rose from Praetorian Prefect to emperor after the death of Gordian III. An Arab from Shahba in modern Syria, he is best remembered for presiding over the spectacular celebrations of Rome's thousandth anniversary in 248 AD. His reign ended when he was defeated and killed by the usurper Decius.

Philip the Arab presided over the symbolic moment of Rome's thousandth birthday, even as the empire was fracturing around him. His millennium coins are among the most historically significant issues of the third century, marking a grand celebration on the eve of crisis.

Key Events

244 AD Became emperor after the death of Gordian III; concluded peace with Persia

245 AD Campaign against the Carpi on the Danube frontier

247 AD Elevated his son Philip II to co-emperor

248 AD Celebrated Rome's millennium with the Ludi Saeculares — grand secular games

249 AD Defeated and killed by Decius at the Battle of Verona

Coinage

Philip's coinage is notable for the millennium celebration types of 248 AD, which depict exotic animals from the games (lion, stag, hippopotamus, antelope) and references to the saeculum. The antoninianus was now the predominant silver denomination.

Denominations

Aureus Antoninianus Denarius (rare) Sestertius Dupondius As

Notable Types

Millennium types (SAECVLARES AVGG) with exotic animals
Lion, stag, antelope, hippopotamus types
AETERNITAS AVGG column type

Common Reverses

SAECVLARES AVGG AETERNITAS AVGG ROMAE AETERNAE PAX FVNDATA CVM PERSIS FELICITAS TEMP LAETIT FVNDAT

Active Mints

Rome Antioch

Key Events

Coinage

Further Reading