I
had bought the coin below two years ago and I found that the
portrait was not very resembling in the Philippe's usual
portraitToday I discover in
Herakles Numismatics this coin, with this explanation :
"Note: The site of
Viminacium on the Danube
had been occupied by the
Celts before the
Romans arrived and established a
legionary fortress. Early in the reign of
Gordian III (238-244) it was upgraded from a city to a
colonia and coins were struck there, dated according to the foundation-year of the city.
Gordian III issued coins for years 1-5, and
Philip I for years 5-9. The year 5 coins are transitional since the year is shared by both emperors and because on some of Philip's coins (presumably
his first issues of year 5)
his portrait is merely that of
Gordian III, with a slight beard. This often occurred at
Roman mints before official
portraits (imagios) of the new emperors arrived to guide the engravers. Since Philip succeeded
Gordian in February or March, 244, while on the Persian front, and he did not make it back to
Rome until July of that year, there is a suitable gap during which the
portrait fusion (observed on this coin and, for example, no. 3874 in
Sear GICaTV) would have occurred."
What is your opinion on this assertion, have you additional elements to go to this direction ?
I know that this scenario often occurred, but I would like to know more about it on this precise case.
(I have seen also some imperial coins of the end of Gordian's reign where he wears a short beard)
Thank you for your reflexions.
A.C.
