Philip II as Caesar, wrongly with obverse legend of Philip I. - Tetradrachm, 10.94g (1h). Antioch, 244 AD. Obv: AYTOK KAI M IOYΛ ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB Bare-headed, draped, cuirassed bust of Philip II right. Rx: ΔHMAPX - EΞOYCAC (sic, I omitted) around, S C in exergue, Eagle with spread wings standing right on palm branch, holding wreath in beak, tip of left wing passes behind left leg. Rev. type var. of McAlee 1012 (Ex. Rare) and Prieur 333A (1 spec.). EF

Notes
An interesting coin with an accumulation of three rare features. First, on the obverse, the bare-headed, beardless portrait of Philip II as Caesar was wrongly given the obverse legend of his father, Philip I Augustus. Only one other such coin is known, published and illustrated by Prieur 333A; our piece is from the same obverse die. Second, this reverse type with eagle looking right rather than left, McAlee's Type 2 eagle, is very rare on Philip's tetradrachms of 244. The other piece with incorrect obverse legend, by contrast, has the normal reverse type of 244, with eagle looking left. Third, the legend on the reverse die of our coin also contains an error, the I having been left out of the word EΞOYCIAC. This same reverse die, with eagle looking right and error EΞOYCAC, had previously been known only coupled with a correctly labeled obverse die of Philip II Caesar, McAlee 1013 and Prieur 334, and a correct obverse die of Philip I, McAlee 890 and Prieur 322