Marc Antony Legionary Denarius

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by 1934 Wreath Crown, Jan 15, 2021.

  1. 1934 Wreath Crown

    1934 Wreath Crown Well-Known Member

    He had 24 legions of between 4,500-5,000 foot soldiers in each legion drawing approximately 225-300 dinarii a year. Millions were produced, tens of thousands survive today and yet most ancient coin collectors would want to own one. I know I've always wanted to have a decent example.

    Picked up this one issued to legion IV recently and although the reverse is a bit off centre, I thought the strike is strong and the metal appears to be of good quality. I would like to think a decent nearly uncircularised example.

    A bit of post-purchase research seems to indicate that legion IV denarii do quite well in auctions (HA sold 2 good examples in 2020 for almost $2,000 each). At less than half that price, suddenly my purchase doesn't look too bad.;)

    Marc Antony Leg IV Denrius.jpg

    Marc Antony Legionary AR Denarius. Military mint moving with Antony, autumn 32 - spring 31 BC. ANT•AVG III•VIR•R•P•C, praetorian galley to right / Aquila between two signa; LEG IV across fields. Crawford 544/17; CRI 352; BMCRR East 195; RSC 30. 3.61g, 17mm, 6h.

    Would love to hear your views and see some examples of MA's legionary denarii, maybe an AV example:happy:
     
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  3. JayAg47

    JayAg47 Well-Known Member

    A legionary denarius I got last year, also my first Republican coin, LEG-XX. It only cost me 25 bucks, so can't complain!
    LEG XX.png
     
  4. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Nice example @1934 Wreath Crown

    Here's my own LEG IV

    [​IMG]
    Mark Antony, Denarius - struck at a travelling mint, c.32-31 BC
    ANT AVG III VIR RPC, Galley right
    LEG IV, Legionary eagle between two standards
    3.67 gr
    Ref : HCRI #352, Cohen #30

    Q
     
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  5. gsimonel

    gsimonel Well-Known Member

    I got this one off eBay when eBay was in its infancy--well, toddlerhood, actually--and I was just getting started as an ancient collector. I was a grad student and had very little money to spend on coins at the time, so I was lucky to find anything in my price range. Yet despite its scruffy appearance, this coin has remained in my collection all these years:
    [​IMG]
    Silver Denarius
    Traveling legionary mint
    Obv: ANT AVG / IIIVIR RPC - Galley
    Rev: LEG XIX - Legionary eagle between two standards
    17mm, 3.4g.

    Someone, I think a CT member, has put together a web site that lists the rarity of the different legions. Anyone have a link handy?
     
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  6. AussieCollector

    AussieCollector Moderator Moderator

    Amazing purchase.

    Sadly, I have yet to secure one.
     
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  7. 1934 Wreath Crown

    1934 Wreath Crown Well-Known Member

    That's a very nice example Q. I wish the reverse on my coin was as well centred.
     
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  8. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    While the coin is very nice, the centering leaving a bit of question as to the legion number being IV or IX reduces the merits in some of our minds. The coin posted by Cucumbor has more wear but would be preferable in my mind to the OP coin. I am sure this is not the opinion of many including some that do not care in the least about things like legion numbers. On the other end, we have a member here who has the complete set of these to whom the numbers are everything.
     
  9. 1934 Wreath Crown

    1934 Wreath Crown Well-Known Member

    Doug I can't see the last number being an X as it's font would be disproportionately large......and that would not be acceptable to 'Word':D
     
  10. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    It would be a very big X

    Q
     
  11. Parthicus

    Parthicus Well-Known Member

    Here's my Legion III that I bought last year from @John Anthony :
    Marc Antony legionary.jpg
    "Well-worn but with character" as I'd describe it.
     
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  12. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

  13. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Marcus Antonius Leg IV.jpg

    And a rarer version:
    Marcus Antonius  Leg IIII.jpg
     
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  14. Terence Cheesman

    Terence Cheesman Well-Known Member

    Marc Antony Legionary Denarius Legion II 32-31 BC Obv Galley facing right Rv. Legionary eagle flanked by two standards. Crawford 544/15 CRI 350 3.75 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen 544-b.jpg Once more these coins stayed in circulation seeming forever. Many years ago I bought a small hoard of Roman denarii and antoninianii from a friend. This group was part of a much larger assemblage and ended with Gordian III. As I remember the group I can say that even the Gordian III coins showed some slight evidence of being worn so that the hoard may have been deposited even later. The oldest coin in the hoard was a denarius of Marc Antony of the legionary type. It was too badly worn to be identified as belonging to a specific legion. But it does offer testament to the longevity of this coin remaining in circulation.
     
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  15. JayAg47

    JayAg47 Well-Known Member

    I wonder if people later in the years knew that they were holding a coin made during the significant turning point of their civilization, or did they just see it as a good quality silver from a couple of centuries ago!
     
  16. Limes

    Limes Well-Known Member

    It's a really nice specimen. To me, the reverse being a bit off flan is a minor nuisance.
    0.8.png
     
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  17. RichardT

    RichardT Well-Known Member

    It was known in ancient times that Antony had debased these denarii. It is probably why they circulated for so long. Less incentive to melt them down for restriking.
     
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  18. tartanhill

    tartanhill Well-Known Member

    In economics, Gresham's law is a monetary principle stating that "bad money drives out good". For example, if there are two forms of commodity money in circulation, which are accepted by law as having similar face value, the more valuable commodity will gradually disappear from circulation. The less valuable will circulate more. This is the main reason most MA denarii are well worn.
     
  19. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    [​IMG]
    RImp
    Marc Antony
    32-31 BCE
    AR Denarius
    Legio X Equestris - Caesar Denarius
    B bankers mark Eagle Galley Standards


    [​IMG]
    Roman Imperatorial
    Marcus Antonius
    AR Denarius
    32-31 BCE
    Legio III Ship Eagle Standards
    Sear 1479 Craw 544-15
     
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  20. tartanhill

    tartanhill Well-Known Member

    And don't forget the Chortium Praetoriarum

    [​IMG]

    and the Chortis Speculatorum

    [​IMG]
     
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  21. Fugio1

    Fugio1 Well-Known Member

    Indeed, I think there is little doubt that this is Leg IV given the alignment; however, you may be interested in searching the RDP die study for this these dies here: http://numismatics.org/archives/ark:/53695/schaefer.rrdp.b14#schaefer.rrdp.b14_0109
    (see pages 78,79, 81, and 83)
     
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