My first Marcus Antonius legion coin. Long live Legion III (whichever one that might be)

As a gift, I have received this excellent coin. It is a legionary denarius of Marcus Antonius, for the third legion. This is part of my "All things related to Judea" collection. My question for you is, which third legion is it, the Legion III Cyrenica, or the Legion III Gallica, or is it meant for both? As both legions were involved in Judeaic history, Cyrenica helping besiege Jerusalem, and Gallica helping to put Herod in power (That was said by Livius.com) Anyway, I am very excited to touch a coin that has such a long and interesting history!

 

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Nice MA Legionary denarius. Here is mine from that legion. I wish I could pass along more information, but I do not have my catalog with me. Actually I do, but I can't read it on my wife's laptop.

 

Better then my example, but still the Leg. III & glad to even own one.



Marc Antony (44 - 30 B.C.)
AR Denarius
O: ANT AVG III VIR R P C, Praetorian galley right.
R: LEG III Aquila between two signa; LEG III across lower field.
Patrae mint 32-31 B.C .
3.14g
18mm
Crawford 544/15; CRI 350; Sydenham 1217; RSC 28
Legio III Gallica was levied by Julius Caesar around 49 BC, for his civil war against the conservative republicans led by Pompey.

The legion took part in all Julius Caesar's campaigns against his enemies, including the battles of Pharsalus and Munda. Following Caesar's death, III Gallica was integrated in the army of Mark Antony for his campaigns against the Parthians. They were included in the army levied by Fulvia and Lucius Antonius (Antony's wife and brother) to oppose Octavian, but ended by surrendering in Perugia, in the winter of 41 BC. After the battle of Actium and Antony's suicide, the III Gallica was sent again to the East, where they garrisoned the province of Syria.

III Gallica was used in Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo's campaign against the Parthians over the control of Armenia (63). Corbulo's successes triggered emperor Nero's paranoia of persecution and eventually the general was forced to commit suicide. After this, III Gallica is transferred to Moesia province, in the Danube border.

 

My own LEG III, with no more info than @Mat



Q

 

Very cool posts of a Legionary III denarius.

I can't offer any further clarification....and I only have one of the type---a Leg XVI

 

I did some research on the legions named on the Antony denarii a little while ago, trying to pick which one I wanted. This is probably Legio III Gallica, which was definitely with Antony in Parthia. By contrast, the origins of III Cyrenaica are obscure. So the betting has to be Gallica.

I few additional tidbits from my notes about it, in addition to Mat's info:
- went to Syria under Augustus and helped return Crassus’s eagles
- fought for Vespasian at Cremona
- the key legion supporting Elagabalus
- Valerian’s legion before he became emperor
Symbol: Bull.

 

I had a legion vi but sold it. So sad. Just think what it would be worth today!

 

Great gift!

 

Always a neat coin to have, congrats.

 

wow, what a gift! nice.. i don't know about which one it is, but that legion 3 made it for centuries as a legion and were involved in many historical battles and intrigues

 

At what mint were they made?

 

Yours is Crawford 544/15 and was struck at a military mint moving with Antonius from 32-31 BC like all of the type.

I am unfortunately out of town and away from my library at the moment but I will look up legio III when I get home. However, I trust that @Mat and @Severus Alexander are correct when they indicate it is probably Gallica.

If there was one piece of Roman history I wish were better chronicled by ancient sources it is the specific history of the different legions. Pretty fascinating stuff.

 

Very nice @Pompeius !

I have a Legio III also...


RImp Marc Antony AR Denarius 32-31 BCE Legio III Ship Eagle Standards Sear 1479 Craw 544/15