L. Marcius Philippus. Denarius

L. Marcius Philippus; 57 BC, Denarius, 4.16g. Crawford-425/1, Syd-919, Babelon-(Marcia) 28. Obv: ANCVS, Diademed head of Ancus Marcius r; behind, lituus. Rx: PHI[LIPPVS], Equestrian statue, rider raising hand, rearing r on aqueduct; below horse, flower; within arches of the aqueduct, [A]QVA MARC. Banker's mark on the obverse. This denarius of L. Marcus Philippus features the head of Ancus Marcius, the legendary fourth king of Rome. He is identified not only by the legend, but also by iconographic elements: the diadem, a traditional symbol of royal authority since Hellenistic times, and the lituus behind his head, marking his role as augur. As a member of the gens Marcia, the moneyer could claim descent from Ancus Marcius, making it natural to place the king's portrait on his coinage. The likeness may have been copied directly from the king's statue, which stood among those of other early rulers on the Capitoline Hill and would have been familiar to many Romans. Ex Leu Web 34, July 2025, lot 1757.. EF