Ancient Roman Bronze Sestertius Secular Games, Philip I, Lion on Reverse
13
days
18
hours
42
minutes
03
seconds
Current bid
€ 45
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 280 - € 350
 | €45 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €17 | |
| €8 | |
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Ancient Roman bronze sestertius of Philip I, struck in Rome in 248 AD for the Secular Games, with the emperor’s laureate bust on the obverse and a lion advancing right on the reverse.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Coin: Sestertius Philip I the Arab, struck Rome 248 AD.
Obverse: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse - SAECVLARES AVGG, Lion advancing right, SC in exergue.
Ref: RIC 158/ Sear 9010
Diameter: ± 28,2 mm
Condition: very fine condition. Signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
-> Coins, symbols of power - struck in metal. From Emperors to Kings, rulers struck their image and ideals into coins, turning currency into one of history’s most enduring propaganda tools. These small objects passed daily through the hands of ordinary people, spreading messages of authority with every exchange.
-> Secular Games
This coin was struck in 248 AD to honour the Secular Games (Ludi Saeculares), a major religious celebration traditionally held every 100 or 110 years to mark the beginning of a new saeculum.
The Secular Games combined religious rituals dedicated to the God Jupiter with theatrical performances, athletic competitions, chariot races and processions.
The lion featured on the coin refers to a dramatic component of the festivities: staged combats between specially trained gladiators known as Bestiarii and wild animals, particularly lions. These events were hosted in amphitheatres such as the Colosseum and were designed to impress and entertain the public. They were a visual expression of the Roman values of strength, courage, and dominance over nature.
-> Philip I the Arab was Roman Emperor from 244 to 249 AD. He was the first Emperor to come from the Roman province of Arabia.
He rose through the army to become Praetorian Commander under Gordian III. During the Persian campaign his troops gave him their support against Gordian and made him emperor.
In 248 AD Philip had the honour of leading the celebrations of Rome's first millennium (1000th anniversary) with spectacular games and celebrations.
In 249 AD both Philip and his son were killed after their army was defeated near Verona by the forces of Trajan Decius.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Coin: Sestertius Philip I the Arab, struck Rome 248 AD.
Obverse: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse - SAECVLARES AVGG, Lion advancing right, SC in exergue.
Ref: RIC 158/ Sear 9010
Diameter: ± 28,2 mm
Condition: very fine condition. Signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
-> Coins, symbols of power - struck in metal. From Emperors to Kings, rulers struck their image and ideals into coins, turning currency into one of history’s most enduring propaganda tools. These small objects passed daily through the hands of ordinary people, spreading messages of authority with every exchange.
-> Secular Games
This coin was struck in 248 AD to honour the Secular Games (Ludi Saeculares), a major religious celebration traditionally held every 100 or 110 years to mark the beginning of a new saeculum.
The Secular Games combined religious rituals dedicated to the God Jupiter with theatrical performances, athletic competitions, chariot races and processions.
The lion featured on the coin refers to a dramatic component of the festivities: staged combats between specially trained gladiators known as Bestiarii and wild animals, particularly lions. These events were hosted in amphitheatres such as the Colosseum and were designed to impress and entertain the public. They were a visual expression of the Roman values of strength, courage, and dominance over nature.
-> Philip I the Arab was Roman Emperor from 244 to 249 AD. He was the first Emperor to come from the Roman province of Arabia.
He rose through the army to become Praetorian Commander under Gordian III. During the Persian campaign his troops gave him their support against Gordian and made him emperor.
In 248 AD Philip had the honour of leading the celebrations of Rome's first millennium (1000th anniversary) with spectacular games and celebrations.
In 249 AD both Philip and his son were killed after their army was defeated near Verona by the forces of Trajan Decius.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Ancient Roman
Century/timeframe
248 AD
Name of object
Sestertius Secular Games, Philip I, Lion on Reverse
Acquired from
Gallery / Antique dealer
Year acquired
2024
Material
Bronze
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Gallery / Antique dealer
Previous owner - year acquired
2024
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
