⛰️ a view to a hill 🏛

There are few greater moments in life than chancing upon that package or envelope you’ve been waiting so eagerly for. With eager hands you tear it open, and with it that beautiful moment of not knowing exactly what the precious contents look like, feel like. Ah, well - all the best things are fleeting, aren’t they?

Some short weeks I received such a delivery, the fruit of a £40 eBay purchase. The listing price was oddly low - someone had paid £100 for it at auction not long ago - but I’m not complaining. And the coin itself? Nothing too special, but I reckon you’ll like it. So enough of this meandering introduction, and let’s go!

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AE 30, Philip I ‘the Arab’ (244-249 AD), Zeugma in Commagene. Obv. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, AVTOK K M IOVΛI ΦΙΛΙΠΠOC CЄB. Rev. Tetrastyle temple atop hill, containing seated figure facing, with structures at base of hill and up either side; in exergue, capricorn right, ZЄVΓMATЄΩN. RPC -(unassigned; ID 8189); Butcher 31a; BMC 42. 14.92g. Very fine. Image credit Numismatik Naumann

Struck under an emperor I doubt you’ve heard of (Philip I) and in a city-state I’m nearly sure you haven’t (Zeugma), this might seem a strange coin to purchase. But look closer at the reverse, and you’ll make out the curious depiction of a local temple. And, you know what? No one can agree on how to interpret this scene! Here are two ideas:

• temple atop hill, with structures at base and either side of this hill

• temple seen in perspective, with walled courtyard in front

At first glance, maybe the first seems more likely? That’s what the auction house that sold this coin decided on, after all. Fine. But what do we mean by ‘structures’ around the hill? Good luck coming up with a satisfactory answer. And let us not forget that depictions of architecture seen in perspective are remarkably common in contemporary coinage, especially those struck in neighbouring regions. The second therefore seems like a much more reasonable option to me. But in any case, here’s a reminder that much of archaeology is just informed guesswork, and you certainly don’t have to be an expert to come up with theories or form opinions.

And, just below this temple-thing (whatever it may be), the die-engraver’s opted to depict a tiny hippocampus, the mythological fish-horse! I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t the foggiest as to why, but it’s a cute use of space that rounds out the composition, and I love the coin all the more for it. The size/thickness (30mm diameter) and dark green patina make this piece even more alluring in hand, especially compared to the small over-cleaned silver imperial denarii I’m used to seeing - Roman provincial coinage, to my eyes, finds itself under-appreciated. But why complain? All the better for us collectors, I suppose.

And, of course, wishing you a wonderful day, wherever/whenever you are! :)

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