Crawford 425/1, Roman Republic, L. Marcius Philippus, Denarius

Roman Republic (Rome mint 56 BC.), L. Marcius Philippus.
AR Denarius (3.78 g, 17-18 mm).
Obv.: ANCVS , l. under diademed head of Ancus Marcius right; lituus behind.
Rev.: Aqueduct (aqua Marcia) represented as an arcade of five arches surmounted by equestrian statue right, a flower below statue, AQVA MAR (MAR ligate) withing arches, PHILIPPVS on left.
Crawford 425/1 ; Sydenham 919 ; BMCRR 3890; Bab. Marcia 28 .

The coin commemerates the building of the water supply Aqua Marcia in by Ancus Marcius. Ancus Marcius, Rome's fourth King, reigned from approximately 641 to 616 B.C. Because historians such as Livy recorded details of his reign centuries later, accounts of his accomplishments differ, but probably include the settlement of the Aventine Hill, the first extension of Rome beyond the Tiber River, the founding of the port of Ostia, and public works such as bridges, aqueducts, and Rome's first public prison. Marcius is also credited with strengthening worship of the gods and developing Rome's religious rites. The gens Marcia claiaimed descent from the fourth King of Rome, who was the first to bring water to the city via the aqueduct pictured on this coin's reverse, the Aqua Marcia. The statue on the reverse might be of the praetor Q. Marcius Rex, who was comissioned by the Senate in 144 BC to repair the old aqueducts and to build a new one to bring water to the Capital.