Marc Anthony Portrait/Sol Temple AR Denarius

I got this in a few days ago and had my doubts about it being an official coin. It had a bankers mark, test cut and was well worn, but i really couldn't see any sign of silver on it(of course, now i can). I've studied about these and other MA coins heavy for the last few days and thought of sending it back. Then today i was thinking... well, it's already got a test cut in it, so why not "test" it myself(in the same ancient cut, of course). I did and it was a shiny revelation.. so now i have a long sought after Marc Anthony silver denarius plus a temple coin all in one with removal of doubt

Obverse: Portrait Marc Anthony bust right
Reverse: Sol in temple, face of Apollo on disc(worn mostly away)
minted in Greece by traveling military after the battle of Philippe, circa 42 BC. 2.94 gms. Ref. Crawford 496/1

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST YOU COMMENTS AND COINS PEEPS

 

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Nice addition.

My only portrait.


Mark Antony and Octavian (41 B.C.)
AR Denarius
M. Barbatius Pollio, quaestor pro praetore
O: Bare head of Mark Antony right.
R: Bare head of Octavian right, wearing slight beard.
Ephesus mint, Spring-early summer 41 B.C.
3.5g
20mm
Crawford 517/2; CRI 243; Sydenham 1181

 

I agree...nice addition. Here is my M.A. portrait.

 

Nice job @ominus1 ! What did you use to test cut? I would have used 3-4 full strokes with a hacksaw....

I only have this one portrait:


RImp Antony-Octavian AR Denarius 41 BCE 3.65g 18.7mm Military mint Syria star Craw 528-2a Sear 1507

 

Congrats! I’m always tempted by those... it’s a cool type.

 

Worn by a nice example @ominus1

 

Nice!

 

Very nice!

 

Nice coin but I don't think I would have the nerve to cut into a 2k year old plus coin.

 

A few thoughts on the OP coin.

First, the weight is a concern. 2.94 is too light and it should be 3.5 or a bit higher. It may be a cast forgery.

Second, cutting into the coin doesn't tell you anything about its authenticity other than perhaps that it's a fourree; an ancient forgery. If it is a cast forgery, it would likely be made of silver so cutting into it won't help you determine that.

I wouldn't say anything really looks wrong with the coin other than the low weight. Better pictures might help show something else, but it's well worn so it's unlikely there's anything else telling on it.

Please don't make it a habit attempting invasive diagnostics on your coins. It won't tell you anything important and will reduce the value of them 100% of the time.

 

I have the same MA portrait type as Orfew, minted much later in 32 BC during the conflict with Octavian:

 

Nice coin especially the portrait of such a famous historical figure. Congrats.

 

+1. Look up specific gravity testing. Much easier as long as you have a reasonably accurate scale and of course much less invasive. There's always a better way than cutting into a coin.

 

If it was high relief and worn down nearly flat that can account for low weight.

 

I'm ok with the weight on it. Those listed in WildWinds and sold by various other houses were from 3.0+ grams. And recutting in the previous test cut doesn't bother me, I doubt it goes up for sale while i'm alive, but if it does, i can confidently say it's a AR.. and most likely without it i'd have sent it back.

 

Hey! That's my old coin!


Here's my collection of Antony and his family including several portraits

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=1822

 

Here's a fourree with still a nice portrait and acceptable wear on it


Mark Antony, Fourree denarius Minted in Athens in 32 BC
ANTON AVG IMP III COS DES III III V R P C, bare head of Mark Antony right
ANTONINVS / AVG IMP III in two lines
3,52 gr
Ref : RCV # 1478, HCRI # 347, RSC # 2, Cohen # 2

Q

 

Coincidentally, I recently acquired an example of the same type:



No testcuts, but a couple of bankers marks.

I have one ancient coin with a modern intentional hole (not made by me).
This Otho denarius (RIC 2) had a small hole drilled into it to allow a metal sample to be taken -


The results of the study, whuch involved 26 Otho denarii - some of which had large segments removed - are published here: https://www.researchgate.net/public...i_of_Otho_a_stylistic_and_compositional_study

I don't think I'd do any testcuttibg myself

ATB,
Aidan.

 

those are fine coins!.. i've seen similar MA coins like yours for around 2 grand. i'm still after an Otho.

 

Well, they didn't cost that much! The Otho was €250 back in 2010, and the MA €284 a few weeks ago.

ATB,
Aidan.