12 ) OTACILIA SEVERA, wife of Philip I. Augusta, 244-249 AD. AR Antoninianus (23mm, 4.71 gm). Struck circa 248 AD. OTACIL SEVERA AVG, diademed and draped bust right, on crescent / SAECVLARES AVGG, hippopotamus standing right; IIII in exergue. RIC IV 116b; RSC 63. Good VF, a little flat in centers.
This coin was struck in honor of the Secular Games, held to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the founding of Rome. During these games a wide variety of exotic animals were brought to Rome to be displayed and, usually, killed in the arena. Modern bull fighting is but a pale imitation of the extensive destruction of animals that took place during Roman festivals. Not only were beasts killed in imitation of hunts, but others were used for the public execution of criminals who were thrown to them: presumably those unfortunates who were not immediately felled by the wild beasts were dispatched by their keepers.
13 ) PHILIP II. 247-249 AD. AV Aureus (4.90 gm). Struck 248 AD. IMP PHILIPPVS AVG, laureate and draped and bust right / SAECVLARES AVGG, low column inscribed COS II. RIC IV 225; Cohen 77. Superb EF. Extremely rare aureus issue for Philip as Augustus. Issued during the Saecular games celebrating the 1000th anniversary of the foundation of Rome.
Con questo ho concluso, spero di non esser stato troppo prolisso nell'esposizione e di aver catturato la vostra attenzione.
Ciao
Illyricum
:)