Silver Antoninianus Set Emperor Philip I & Philip II (244-268 AD)

Father and Son in Silver: the Antoninianus Set of the Two Philips

• Set contents: 1x Antoninianus of Emperor Philip I the Arab and 1x Antoninianus of Emperor Philip II – two rulers of one dynasty, united in a single set
• Minting quality: deliberately not a modern collector's edition in "Proof" (PP), but genuine ancient circulation coinage with naturally grown patina
• Weight & format: 4.2 g raw weight each, 8.4 g combined; diameter and flan shape vary due to their ancient origin
• Denomination: Antoninianus – the double denarius of the Roman imperial era, identifiable by the radiate crown
• Origin: Roman Empire, 3rd century AD; mint, year of issue and reverse variant may vary
• Metal: genuine silver of ancient minting, depending on the emission as silver billon with varying fineness
• One-of-a-kind character: each piece a hand-struck original with its own toning, centering and strike sharpness
• Tax note: profits from the sale of silver are generally tax-free, provided the holding period is at least one year
• Delivery: as insured value shipping, discreetly and carefully packaged

Two portraits, one imperial house, roughly 1,800 years of history in the palm of your hand. This set brings together what belonged together in antiquity: the father, who rose from the province of Arabia to the very top of the Empire, and the son, who already bore imperial titles as a child. Anyone who collects ancient silver coins will find here a duo with extraordinary narrative power.

Philip I the Arab – the man who rose from the East

Marcus Iulius Philippus came from the province of Arabia and worked his way up through the Roman professional army until he became Praetorian Prefect under Gordian III. (cite index="6-14,6-16">He became emperor on 25 February 244; he fell in the autumn of 249 near Verona. In between lay six eventful years – and a high point that Rome would never experience again: (cite index="4-3">in 248, father and son celebrated the millennium of the city of Rome with lavish games in the capital. The legend on the obverse depicted names him with his full title: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG.

Philip II – Augustus at the age of ten

(cite index="1-1,1-3,1-4,1-5">His son, also named Philippus, was born in 237 and was seven years old when his father ascended the throne in 244; that same year he was raised to Caesar, and in 247, at the age of ten, to Augustus – a nominally equal co-ruler. (cite index="1-7">On coins he appeared early on with the inscription PRINCIPI IVVENT, i.e. as First of the Youth and future successor. His Antoninianus shows exactly that: a youthful, beardless bust with radiate crown, surrounded by IMP PHILIPPVS AVG. (cite index="3-1">He died in 249 in Rome at the age of twelve. A child emperor on genuine silver – numismatically, a piece of contemporary history from the crisis of the Empire.

The Antoninianus: double denarius with radiate crown

The Antoninianus was introduced under Caracalla around 214 AD and became the most widely minted coin of the Empire during the 3rd century. Nominally it was valued at two denarii, but in terms of silver fineness only at one and a half. Its identifying feature is the emperor's radiate crown. (cite index="8-1">Around 238 the average silver content was still around 40 percent, but by around 270 it had fallen below three percent – coins from the era of the two Philips therefore originate from a period when the denomination still contained a noticeable amount of silver. Compared to a heavy bronze sestertius, this duo offers genuine precious metal in pocket format; compared to an early denarius, the portraits appear larger and more expressive. Minting took place, among other places, in Rome and Antioch, and the types are recorded in the Roman Imperial Coinage (RIC). On the reverses one encounters personifications such as Moneta with scales and cornucopia, as well as, depending on the variant, Felicitas, Annona, Aequitas or Fides.

Condition: traces that make up the appeal

Those familiar with modern collector's editions in PP may deliberately need to rethink here. These pieces are coins that were once in circulation and bear corresponding traces: darker patina, individual centering, nicks, wear and, in some cases, weaker areas of the legend. That is precisely what makes them appealing. As the year of issue, mint and reverse variant may vary, the item delivered will differ from the picture shown – you receive an original, not a mass-produced product. We therefore ask for your understanding that the image in the shop serves as an example and may differ individually from the delivered item in terms of appearance and condition due to historical circumstances.

Silver as a tangible asset – then as now

For thousands of years, silver served as coinage metal, medium of trade, and symbol of wealth and prestige. This set brings that vividly to life. Physical precious metal remains scarce, durable and tradable worldwide, while industrial demand from electronics, solar and medical technology meets a limited supply. Unlike fiat money, which rests solely on trust in institutions, silver possesses an intrinsic value derived from its physical properties. Many investors and collectors therefore value it as a hedge against inflation and crises, as well as a building block of long-term retirement provision that can be passed down through generations.

The Roman Empire has passed away, its currency long since become history – yet the silver in these two coins has endured for around 1,800 years.

Who this set is made for

• Collectors of ancient coins who want to display father and son not individually, but as a unified set
• Newcomers to Roman numismatics who want to start with two characterful portraits
• History enthusiasts who want to not just read about the imperial era, but hold it in their hands
• Gift-givers looking for a present with genuine narrative value – featuring two emperors at once

This set is therefore both: a numismatic collector's item of great historical density and a piece of honest precious metal that has already passed through Roman hands.