Philip the Arab Copper-Alloy As

Monetary Context and Denominational Role

By the accession of Philip the Arab in 244 AD, the Roman currency system was dominated by the radiate silver antoninianus, which had displaced the denarius as the principal circulating coin. This structural realignment heavily impacted the traditional orichalcum and copper denominations instituted during the Augustan monetary reform. Within this hierarchy, the as served as the base fractional unit, valued at four asses to the sestertius and two asses to the dupondius. However, accelerating inflation and the rising costs of minting small, low-value bronze pieces diminished the economic incentive to produce the as in substantial numbers. While the imperial mint maintained regular output of the sestertius to supply large bronze transactions, the as became a secondary issue, struck in far smaller quantities than in the first and second centuries AD. Its intrinsic metal value hovered close to or occasionally exceeded its official purchasing power due to alloy inconsistencies and production costs, accelerating the denomination's gradual obsolescence.

Production Techniques and Mint Organization

The overwhelming majority of official imperial copper-alloy asses for Philip the Arab were produced at the primary mint of Rome. The mint operated with organized officinae (workshops), which simultaneously struck gold aurei, silver antoniniani, and aes denominations. While provincial cities across the Levant and Greece struck their own civic bronzes bearing Philip's portrait, those issues functioned under local weight systems and lacked the senatorial sanction marked on Rome's output. At the Rome mint, flans for the as were cast in individual molds or open runner systems, resulting in noticeable irregularities in flan roundness, thickness, and beveling. The standard diameter for Philip's asses generally spans between 24 and 27 millimeters, with weights typically clustered around 9.0 to 12.0 grams, though individual specimens demonstrate significant variance due to relaxed quality control at the flan-casting stage. Striking was performed manually with hardened iron or bronze dies, frequently showing die-axis alignments clustered at roughly twelve or six o'clock.

Obverse Iconography and Imperial Portraiture

The obverse of Philip the Arab's as adheres strictly to imperial numismatic convention for the denomination. Unlike the dupondius, which displayed the emperor wearing a radiate solar crown to signify a double unit, the as universally depicts Philip wearing a laurel wreath. The portraiture is rendered in the characteristic third-century soldier-emperor veristic style, emphasizing Philip's mature features, close-cropped military haircut, trimmed stubbled beard, and pronounced jawline. The bust is typically shown facing right, frequently draped and cuirassed, though variants featuring drapery alone or an unadorned cuirass are attested across different die series. The obverse presentation conveyed gravitas, authority, and military legitimacy, projecting the stability of the central administration during a period of relentless border conflict and domestic vulnerability.

Reverse Designs and Typology

The reverse repertoire of Philip's asses closely parallels that of contemporary sestertii and antoniniani, fulfilling the function of state propaganda. Major design categories include traditional personifications such as Annona (standing with corn ears and cornucopiae, with a modius at her feet), Aequitas (holding scales and cornucopiae), Pax (holding an olive branch and transverse scepter), Felicitas (holding a caduceus and cornucopiae), and Fides Militum (holding military standards). A pivotal milestone occurred in 248 AD, when Philip celebrated the bimillenary, or thousandth anniversary, of Rome's founding with the Saecular Games (Ludi Saeculares). Asses belonging to this jubilee series depict varied exotic beasts, such as lions, stags, and gazelles, as well as commemorative cippi (inscribed columns) reading COS III. Across virtually all reverse types of the imperial series, the large letters S C (Senatus Consulto) flank the central figure, preserving the constitutional fiction of senatorial authority over bronze token issues.

Inscriptions and Epigraphic Formulas

The epigraphy of Philip's asses utilizes standardized Latin formulas in unabbreviated and abbreviated capitals. The most pervasive obverse legend throughout the reign is IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG (Imperator Marcus Iulius Philippus Augustus). Minor variations occur, especially on earliest issues or rare fractional emissions. On the reverse, legends elucidate the accompanying visual themes. Common titular and programmatic legends include AEQVITAS AVGG (Equity of the Augusti, referencing Philip and his son, Philip II), ANNONA AVGG, PAX AETERNA, FELICITAS TEMP, and FIDES MILITVM. During the millennial celebrations, legends such as SAECVLARES AVGG, SAECVLVM NOVVM, and MILIARIVM SAECVLVM explicitly announced the dawn of a new era. The reverse field or exergue regularly incorporates S C. Epigraphic letterforms are typically compact and functional, though die wear and irregular die cutting can lead to letter merging or simplified serifs.

Typological Evolution and Chronological Sequence

The chronology of Philip's asses is divided into several clear phases between 244 and 249 AD. The opening phase, spanning 244 to 245 AD, established Philip's legitimacy following the death of Gordian III, utilizing reverse types celebrating peace (Pax), stability, and liberalitas distributions to the Roman populace. The middle phase, from 245 to 247 AD, focused heavily on military themes and the elevation of Philip's young son to the rank of Augustus in 247 AD, signaled by pluralized legends such as AVGG. The fourth and most celebrated phase spans 248 AD, dominated by the Saecular Games, which deployed a cohesive typological scheme of wild beasts and commemorative altars across all denominations, including rare asses. The final period, 248 to 249 AD, reflected rising internal unrest and the rebellion of Decius, featuring invocations of Virtus and military fidelity before Philip's fall at the Battle of Verona in late 249 AD.

Circulation Patterns, Hoarding, and Survival

Philip's asses circulated primarily within Italy and the western European provinces, including Gaul, Britain, and the German frontier zones, where imperial bronze was historically the main medium of low-value market exchange. In the eastern provinces, regional and civic bronze issues dominated everyday trade, rendering western bronze imports relatively infrequent. In archaeological contexts, asses of Philip the Arab are recovered with markedly lower frequency than earlier Flavian, Trajanic, or Antonine examples, reflecting both modest initial mintage figures and the progressive demonetization of traditional aes. When discovered in hoards, they usually appear in mixed deposits of second- and third-century sestertii and dupondii rather than dedicated fractional hoards. The physical condition of surviving specimens often reflects extended circulation wear, as base metal remained in use for decades after Philip's reign amidst mounting bronze coin shortages.

References

1. Description historique des monnaies frappées sous l'Empire romain, Tome IV (2nd ed.). pp. 95-134
2. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum: General Introduction and Catalogues. Section on mid-third century aes
3. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Volume IV, Part III: Gordian III to Uranius Antoninus. pp. 68-105
4. Roman Coins and Their Values, Volume III: The Third Century Crisis and Recovery, A.D. 235-285. pp. 145-168