Roman Republic, Marcius Philippus, Denarius

Lucius Marcius Philippus was a monetary triumvir in 56 BC while his father, who had the same name as him, was a consul. Marcius was then commoners tribune in 49 BC, praetor in 44 BC and consul in 38 BC. The aqueduct on the reverse was restored by Caesar's great grandfather Quintus Marcius Rex and bore his name, hence the MAR ligature.

Roman Republic

L. Marcius Philippus (57 BC), Denarius 57 BC, mint Rome

Obverse: diademed head of King Ancus Marcius right, lituus behind

Reverse: equestrian statue prancing right on arcade of five arches, PHILIPPVS above, AQVA MAR (MAR ligate) within arches

Weight 3,86 g

Presented on the obverse Ancus Marcius was the fourth king of Rome (640-616 BC). The Marcia people claimed to be directly descended from the monarch who introduced running water into Rome through the aqueduct. The statue on the reverse of the presented denarius refers to Quintus Marcius Rex, who in 144 BC, as a praetor, commissioned the repair of old aqueducts and the construction of the one that served the water in the Capitol (Aqua Marcia). This aqueduct was located in the Regio VIII Roman Forum. In 144 BC, rebuilding the aqueducts cost 180 million sesterces.