Philip I, AE Provincial, bronze, reign 244-249, minted 244-249

Philip I, AE Provincial, bronze, reign 244-249, minted 244-249, weight 13.5 g, diameter 27 mm. Obverse: laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip I right, seen from rear; legend ΑΝΤΙΟΧΕΩΝ ΜΗΤΡΟ ΚΟΛΩΝ, Δ Ε, S C. Reverse: veiled, turreted and draped bust of Tyche right; above, ram leaping right with head left; below, star. Strike: well-centered, even pressure, minor edge flaws. Toning: dark brown patina with lighter high points. References: RPC VIII, unassigned ID 7494; local Antioch civic issues. Struck at Antioch during Philip I’s reign, this provincial bronze reflects the city’s continued practice of honoring both the emperor and its guardian deity Tyche. The obverse proclaims imperial authority in Greek legend, while the reverse combines Tyche’s civic symbolism with the ram and star motifs commonly linked to Antioch’s foundation myth and astral associations. Such coins circulated locally alongside imperial issues, illustrating the blend of central Roman rule and municipal identity in the eastern provinces during the mid-3rd century.