Provincial bronze issue of Philip II (AD 244–247 as Caesar), struck at Bizye in Thrace, belongs to the civic coinage of the Thracian region, where portraits of imperial family members were frequently combined with motifs rooted in local and Hellenistic traditions.
The obverse shows the head of the young ruler facing right, with the Greek legend M IOVΛ ΦIΛIΠΠOC KAIC, identifying him as Caesar. This titulature clearly places the issue before his elevation to Augustus, allowing it to be securely dated to the early stage of his political career.
The reverse depicts Eros standing left, leaning on a torch set upon an altar, with the legend ΒΙΖΥΗΝΩΝ, referring to the citizens of Bizye as the issuing authority. This representation of Eros belongs to the classical iconographic repertoire of the Greek world and is often associated with funerary symbolism, conveying themes of transience, repose, or the extinguishing of life.
Roman Provincial
Thrace, Hadrianopolis, Gordian III (238-244), AE
Obverse: bare head right
M IOVΛ ΦIΛIΠΠOC KAIC
Reverse: Eros in attitude of Thanatos standing left, resting on torch set on altar
ΒΙΖΥΗΝΩΝ
Diameter 17 mm, weight 3.13 g
