PAMPHYLIA. Side. Philip II, as Caesar, 244-247. Pentassarion (?) (Copper, 31 mm, 14.61 g, 1 h), 247. ΜΑΡΚΟΝ ΙΟΥΛΙΟΝ CЄYΗΡΟΝ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΝ ΚΑΙ-CΑΡΑ / Є Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip II to right. Rev. IC AIΩNA / TA ΠΥ/ΘΙΑ / CIΔHTΩN Two Nikes standing facing each other, holding a large agonostic urn with two palm branches on top between them. SNG Copenhagen -. SNG Paris -. SNG PFPS 774-5 (same dies). SNG von Aulock -. Very rare. Very fine.

The penteteric Pythian games of Side, one of the main cities of Pamphylia, were installed in 243 under Gordian III. Our coin, struck under Philip II, can therefore be dated to 247: it was issued to commemorate the second time the games were held in the city. The legend on the reverse, when loosely translated, is a wish that the festival will be remembered in the eons to come (IC AIΩNA TA ΠΥΘΙΑ = 'Forever the Pythian games!')