Finally - With a Little Help from My Friends

Bing · Nov 19, 2018

Using a line from the Beetles hit song, I have finally found and purchased a Mark Anthony Legio IIII with "a little help from my friends". Over the time I've been trying to assemble a collection of MA's legionary denarii, I've been helped along the way by several CT members looking, and finding many of those missing from my collection. This last one was found by @Jay GT4 and I immediately pounced on it. It's a rather rare form being IIII rather than the IV Roman numeral. None of this legion number configuation was found in the Delos Hoard of 1905

Legio IIII Scythica: one of the Roman legions whose title means 'the legion from Scythia'. Founded by the triumvir Marc Antony in the years after 42, it is not known where it was first stationed. Syria is a possibility, and if this is correct, it is very likely that the fourth legion took part in Antony's ill-fated campaign against the Parthian empire.

In 31 BCE, Octavian defeated Marc Antony at Actium. From then on, the fourth legion was certainly active in Moesia, the region of the Lower Danube. The surname Scythica is attested during the reign of Augustus, and there was much heavy fighting in the years 29-27. The legion's base was probably at Viminacium (Kostolac in eastern Serbia).

The legion is reported to have taken part in civil tasks, such as the building and keeping of roads. In his youth, future emperor Vespasian served in this legion. During the civil war of the year 69, the Fourth Scythian legion sided with its former officer Vespasian (the winning side).

Now to the coin itself. It arrived entombed in an NGC slab, but, obviously, it couldn't remain there.

My images of a free Legio IIII:

MARCUS ANTONIUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: ANT AVG III VIR R P C, Praetorian galley, thyrsos behind prow
REVERSE: LEG IIII, legionary eagle between two standards
Patrae 32-31 BC
3.3g, 17mm
RSC 29; Syd 1220, Cr544/16

And finally placed in it's reserved location in my display case:

I know some will say I am missing three other legions: Pre (extremely rare, may not be genuine), IIX (3 known examples), and XVIIII (very rare). Because of their rarity, I do not believe I will ever be able to obtain any of them so I just left them off my display case. That's one way. Just pretend they don't exists, eh?

I will post all of these coins individually in this thread.

Thanks to all who have helped me along the way. I will still be looking to upgrade many of these coins, so any continued help will be appreciated.

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zumbly · Nov 19, 2018

Congrats, Bing! It’s great to see the case finally complete. What an epic set!

TIF · Nov 19, 2018

That is fantastic!! The display is absolutely stunning

Alegandron · Nov 19, 2018

Incredible Journey and congratulations! Wow, what an accomplisment... going from a boy playing Marc Antony to having this fantastic collection. Well done.