Crawford 425/1var, PHILIPPVS, L. Marcius Philippus

RRSC D217 (Variant with 6 aqueduct arches), Crawford 425/1, Sear 382

Lucius Marcius PHILIPPVS was the last representative of the widely ramified family of the Marcii in the position of a moneyer, who in its entirety can boast over half a dozen Tresviri Monetales. The father of L. Marcius Philippus bore the same name and was Consul in 56 BC, in the same year in which his son took over the moneyer status. The master's father also acquired a certain role in the transition from the Republic to the Principate. He married Atia, the niece of Caesar and Mother of Octavian, for a second marriage. He advised his stepson Octavian, later Emperor Augustus, after the assassination of Caesar reject the legacy of the dictator, which Octavian refused, however, with known result. Our mint master Lucius Marcius Philippus was the stepbrother of Octavian. Philip survived the civil wars and became Consul in the year 38. With the depiction of the Roman king Ancus Marcius in the obverse, the moneyer introduces the ancient, legendary origin of his family. The Lituus will probably stand for the Augurat of kings or a family member. The back is also dedicated to the glory of Marcier and shows an aqueduct with an equestrian statue. This is Quintus Marcius Rex, the builder of the Aqua Marcia. He was praetor in the year 144 and was entrusted with the construction of a new aqueduct to Rome. The named after him Aqua Marcia was the longest of the eleven Roman aqueducts, whose source was more than 90 km from Rome in the valley of the Anio."