Philip I, 244-249. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 28 mm, 15.85 g, 1 h), Rome, 248. IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG Laurate, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip I to the right, seen from behind. Rev. SAECVLARES AVGG / S - C Lion advancing right. Cohen 176. RIC 158a. An attractive and clear example. Minor porosity from cleaning, otherwise, good very fine.

The Secular Games were a Roman religious celebration, involving sacrifices and theatrical performances, held in ancient Rome for three days and nights to mark the end of a saeculum and the beginning of the next. A saeculum, supposedly the longest possible length of human life, was considered to be either 100 or 110 years in length. In the year 248, the city celebrated its 1000 anniversary ab urbe condita, leading Philip I to hold a series of spectacular games in Rome, including fights of wild beasts like the lion that we see on this coin