Philip I Arab, RIC 69

Ruler: Philip I, 244-249.

Obverse:  IMP C M IVL PHILIPPVS P F AVG PM

Reverse:  PAX FVNDATA CVM PERSIS

Bust: Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip I to right, seen from behind.

Mint: Antiochia (or some other eastern mint?) 

Denomination: Antoninianus

Weight: 4,44 g

Reference: RIC 69

Note: This coin commemorates the peace agreement ('PAX FVNDATA CVM PERSIS') between Philip and Shapur about A.D. 244, in which the humiliated Romans agreed to pay a tribute of 50 Million Sestertii to the Sasanids. Nonetheless, the imperial propaganda marked the treaty as a huge success and Philip assumed the victory title 'Persicus Maximus', which is included into the emperor's titulature on the obverse ('P[ersicvs] M[aximvs]').

In 244 at Misikhe (Falluja today, in Iraq) a part of the Roman army was defeated by Shapur. Many were taken prisoners, and Shapur in a famous inscription says there was among them a Praetorian Prefect (Philip the Arab's brother Priscus). The emperor Gordian retreated with the rest of his troops along the Euphrates, but he died and was buried at Zaitha, near Doura Europos. The army needed an emperor and immediately elected the Praetorian Prefect Philip the Arab. Not because he was a great warrior or strategist, he was never reputed as such, but more probably because he had the keys of the imperial war treasure and was the only person in position of paying the soldiers and negotiate their comrades’ ransoms. 

Shapur accepted to negotiate. The Roman army that had retreated after Misikhe was still powerful, and the Persian king thought it wiser to declare victory now and end the war. The new Caesar Philip liberated the prisoners for 500,000 aurei, but kept the cities retaken the year before. Philip had also a large quantity of silver antoniniani minted in some Oriental military mint (they are not from Antioch): on these coins he claims the title of PM which is not Pontifex Maximus but “Persicus Maximus” and the reverse figures Pax, the Peace, with the never seen before legend “Pax fundata cum Persis”: Peace made with the Persians. 

Collection : 15 Philip I Arab and his family