Certified NGC Choice VF, this historically significant issue honors the moneyer’s legendary ancestor Ancus Marcius, the fourth king of Rome, while celebrating one of the Republic’s greatest engineering achievements, the Aqua Marcia aqueduct.
Coin Highlights:
- Issuer: L. Marcius Philippus
- Date: 57 BC
- Mint: Rome
- Denomination: Denarius
- Composition: Silver
- Grade: NGC Choice VF
- Reference: Crawford 425/1
- Sydenham 919
- Babelon Marcia 28
- RBW 1524
Obverse:
- Diademed head of Ancus Marcius facing right.
- Lituus behind portrait.
- Legend: ANCVS
- Depicts the legendary fourth King of Rome and ancestor claimed by the Marcia family.
Reverse:
- Equestrian statue raising right hand atop a triple-arched aqueduct.
- Legend: PHILIPPVS
- Inscription within the arches: AQVA M(ARC)
- References the famous Aqua Marcia, one of ancient Rome’s most important aqueducts.
Historical Significance:
This denarius was struck during the turbulent final decades of the Roman Republic, only a few years before the rise of Julius Caesar as sole ruler of Rome. The coin serves as both family propaganda and a celebration of Roman achievement.
The reverse depicts the Aqua Marcia, one of the longest and most important aqueducts serving ancient Rome. Begun in 179 BC and named after the praetor Quintus Marcius Rex, it supplied fresh water to the city for centuries and was regarded as one of Rome’s finest engineering accomplishments.
By featuring Ancus Marcius and the Aqua Marcia, the moneyer emphasized the prestigious history of the Marcia family and their contributions to Rome’s growth and prosperity.
Historical Figure: Ancus Marcius (Traditional Reign c. 642-617 BC)
Ancus Marcius was the legendary fourth king of Rome and grandson of the revered King Numa Pompilius. Ancient historians credited him with expanding Roman territory, strengthening religious institutions, and founding Rome’s first port at Ostia. Although the details of his reign blend history and legend, Ancus became an important ancestral figure for the powerful Marcia family.
Roman moneyers frequently used coinage to highlight famous ancestors, and Ancus Marcius appears on several Republican issues as a symbol of noble lineage, civic leadership, and Rome’s early development.
Collectibility:
The denarii of L. Marcius Philippus are among the most popular Republican silver issues due to their exceptional historical symbolism and distinctive reverse design. The depiction of the Aqua Marcia provides a rare representation of Roman engineering on ancient coinage, while the portrait of Ancus Marcius connects the coin to Rome’s legendary past. NGC Choice VF examples are highly desirable for collectors seeking historically important Republican coinage.
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