L. Marcius Philippus, 57 BC. Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.92 g, 7 h), Rome. ANCVS Diademed head of Ancus Marcius to right; behind, lituus. Rev. PHILIPPVS Equestrian statue, raising right hand, set to right on aqueduct; below horse, a flower; within the arches of the aqueduct, AQVA MARC. Babelon (Marcia) 28. Crawford 425/1. RBW 1524. Sydenham 919. Slightly rough, otherwise, good very fine.


This denarius of L. Marcus Philippus depicts the head of Ancus Marcius, the legendary fourth king of Rome. He is not only identified by the legend, but also by his diadem, a symbol of royal authority since the Hellenistic time, and the lituus behind his head, the symbol of the augurship, which Ancus Marcius had held. Of course, there is also the fact that the gens Marcia, to whom the moneyer belonged, all claimed descent from the legendary king, so it would be natural to place his portrait on the coinage struck by one of his descendants. The head here was probably copied directly from his statue which, along with the other kings of Rome, stood in the Capitol, and thus would have been recognizable to many Romans of the day.

Ancus Marcius was reportedly the first person to bring water to Rome by building an aqueduct. In addition, the moneyer's ancestor, the praetor Q. Marcius Rex, was commissioned by the Senate to built a new aqueduct, Rome's third, to supply water to the Capitoline Hill, which he did from 144-140 BC and which was named Aqua Marcia after him. The equestrian statue on the aqueduct on this coin actually stood in front of the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus and was most likely erected to commemorate the praetor's work after the aqueduct was completed.