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AR denarius (Rome, 113–112 BC)
O/ Head of Philip V of Macedon, wearing helmet with goat's horns, on which rests diadem; ROMA downwards behind; Φ before.
R/ Equestrian statue carrying laurel-branch; flower below horse; L PHILIPPVS on tablet below; XVI below.
3.97g; 18mm
Crawford 293/1 (28 obverse dies/35 reverse dies)
- Naville Numismatics Live Auction 42, lot 403.
Lucius Marcius Q.f. Q.n. Philippus:
Our moneyer belongs to the great plebeian gens Marcia. The cognomen Philippus was linked to Philip V of Macedon, portrayed on the obverse (the Greek letter Φ serves as a legend), with whom the family had some connexion (Livy, xlii. 38). He was probably the son of Quintus, another moneyer in 129 BC, who went into exile at Nuceria because he might have been opposed to the Caecilii Metelli. The Philippi are indeed often found on the side of the Populares during the late Republic; they had familial ties with the Gracchi, the Claudii Pulchri, and later the Julii Caesares.
This portrayal of Philip V was an innovation and totally unprecedented in the Roman coinage. It was the first time a historical person was pictured on a Roman coin; in addition, Philippus broke the tradition with a foreign king, and former enemy of Rome! The portrait of Philip V nevertheless differs from that on his own coins, so it is possible that Philippus pictured one of his ancestors under the guise of the Macedonian king.
Our bold moneyer did not suffer any setback for the unusual imagery of his denarii. On the contrary, he had a long and distinguished career. He however failed to be elected military tribune (Cicero, pro Plancio, 52), but became Tribune of the Plebs in 104. He is known for having proposed a demagogic agrarian law, but was careful enough not to go too far once it was rejected (Cicero, de Officiis, ii.73). He unexpectedly lost the consular elections of 93 against the homo novus Marcus Herennius (Cicero, Pro Murena, 36), but finally won in 91 with his ally Sextus Julius Caesar, the uncle of the Dictator. He violently opposed the Tribune Marcus Livius Drusus, probably because he was an Optimas. Drusus' reform to add 300 knights to the Senate might have been seen by Philippus as an attempt by some gentes to increase their influence, since these knights were their clients. Drusus' reforms and their developments are still very obscure and often contradictory.
Philippus became Censor in 86 with his former rival Marcus Herennius; his most notable deed was to expel his uncle Appius Claudius Pulcher from the Senate (Cicero, De Domo Sua, 84). He then served as Sulla's legate in Sardinia in 93, where he killed the Praetor Quintus Antonius Balbus (Livy, Periochae, 86). In his later career, the old Philippus seemed to have been a supporter of Pompey (Plutarch, Pompey, 2, 17), but also forged an alliance with the Julii by marrying his son Lucius (Consul in 56) with Atia Balba, the niece of Caesar.
His grandson Lucius was also a moneyer.
Referência : 293/1
Coleção : Roman Republic