J.C. and Anthony's Military Mint

1934 Wreath Crown · Jul 4, 2017

Mikey Zee said: ↑

I've been after a 'nice' portrait of Julius Caesar for a while now, but the cost always seemed just beyond my reach...and then I stumbled upon this posthumous issue. After some light 'research' I decided to go after it, the historical context and the numismatic significance easily winning me over despite some obvious 'flaws'. While I had hoped to win it at a 'bargain' price, two late challenges raised the cost to about average or high retail, yet I'm still thrilled to have been the successful bidder.

This denarius is a bit worn and perhaps weakly struck, but of good silver and each portrait is easily recognizable in the traditional style most of us expect; that of Anthony an up-grade from my worn quinarius and the reverse my first of the 'gaunt' JC. The legends are legible but the DICT on the reverse is largely invisible and the capis/jug appears more as a blob than anything else. Unless I am in error, it appears that this issue was struck on two separate occasions during the Spring and Fall of 43 BC----my example the later emission----and each series was the first of a living Roman associated with a bust of Julius Caesar. Of course, Octavian/Augustus would continue this format in the coming years. And it seems both types were minted just after the famous battle of Mutina (see link below).The following sales excerpt is from a CNG/ROMA auction listing and further describes the significance of this denarius:

"Following the assassination of Julius Caesar, it was unclear who would inherit his legacy. The two primary contenders were Mark Antony and Octavian. Both issued a variety of coinages that propagandized their link to the slain dictator. In particular, Octavian, through his familial link, was able to associate the name CAESAR with his own portrait. Lacking a direct link of this nature, Antony often appeared with the symbols of the various offices he held which had been held by Caesar, such as the augurate. Perhaps Antony's most cunning propaganda, however, is the coinage he struck bearing both his portrait and that of Caesar. The first of these was struck while Antony was in Gaul following his defeat at Mutina in 43 BC, and was the first type struck by Antony's military mint. After the War of Mutina, Antony and Lepidus entered into an autocratic pact with Octavian, the Second Triumvirate. Antony struck these coins in this new atmosphere of cooperation to emphasize and remind the people of his former station as Caesar's right hand man - a shrewd publicity tactic at once connecting himself to the memory of the people's beloved dictator and subtly suggesting himself superior to his colleagues in prestige."

My coin is from the second series of this type, and was struck following the settlement in November 43 BC between Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus, in which the Second Triumvirate was formed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mutina

As always, please feel free to pile on

Mark Antony & Julius Caesar. 43 B.C. AR denarius (17 mm, 3.44 g, 5 h). Mint traveling with Antony in Cisalpine Gaul. CAESAR [DIC], bare head of Julius Caesar right; behind, capis / M A[NT(Conjoined letters)]O IMP R P C (= ReiPublicae Constituendae---Regulation of the Republic), bare head of Marc Antony right; behind, lituus. Crawford 488/1; HCRI 118; Sydenham 1165; RSC 2. Lightly toned. Good metal. Nearly very fine.

View attachment 646376
Click to expand...

Two very collectable historical figures on the same coin. WOW!!!

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Mikey Zee · Jul 5, 2017

Alegandron said: ↑

Here is another Imperator"ess" with a Partner Imperator on the reverse befitting to her personality...
Click to expand...

>>>And a Fulvia!!! I recently was out-bid on an example almost as nice as yours Brian.

Alegandron · Jul 5, 2017

Mikey Zee said: ↑

>>>And a Fulvia!!! I recently was out-bid on an example almost as nice as yours Brian.
Click to expand...

Bummer you were outbid. She is an interesting character! Hope you find another quickly. Hope you are well my Friend!

Log in or Sign up

J.C. and Anthony's Military Mint

1934 Wreath Crown Well-Known Member

Guest User Guest

Mikey Zee Delenda Est Carthago

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

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

J.C. and Anthony's Military Mint

1934 Wreath Crown Well-Known Member

Guest User Guest

Mikey Zee Delenda Est Carthago

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

Share This Page

Useful Searches