New arrival - A fantastic Mark Antony cistophorus.

Today I received my Mark Antony cistophoric tetradrachm that I won at ROMA XX. It's a great coin in hand, and it feels great to add a larger silver denomination to the collection.




Marc Antony and Octavia. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm (12.40g, 27mm, 12h). Minted in Ephesus, Ionia, 39 BC.

Obverse: M•ANTONIVS•IMP•COS•DESIG•ITER•ET•TERT - Head of Antony right, wearing ivy wreath, lituus below; all within wreath of ivy and flowers.

Reverse: III•VIR• R•P•C - Head of Octavia atop cista mystica, between twisting snakes.

Reference: RPC I 2201.

"Following the death of Octavia's first husband C. Claudius Marcellus in 40 BC, her marriage to Antony sought to seal the Pact of Brundisium in which it had been agreed that Octavian would assume control of the west and Antony of the east. The striking of this type cements the agreement before the people of Ephesus, an important city, later made the capital of Asia Minor by Augustus in 27 BC.

Octavia spent two winters with Antony in Athens and in 37 BC assisted in securing the Triumvirate for another 5 years at the Pact of Tarentum. Following this, Antony returned to the east and, having left Octavia behind, lived with Cleopatra VII in Egypt. Although they divorced in 32 BC, after Antony's defeat at the Battle of Actium and subsequent suicide, Octavia raised all of his surviving children by Fulvia and Cleopatra, along with her own."

 

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Great coin!!!

You must be very proud.

 

And happy.

Great coin, I'm envious

Q

 

Beautiful coin, congrats.

 

Very beautiful coin! I especially like the reverse.

 

Love this coin.

 

Magnificent specimen, @Michael Stolt. @Bing, your example --that hypothetically--
would be enough to make me happy, All Day Long.
(...If I had either one, it would be time to read the Shakespeare play. As a recovering English major, that might put a good dent in my ongoing 'Shakespeare anxiety.' As in, 'math anxiety?' let's not go there, and say we did.)

 

Just to satisfy your longing for Shakespeare:

Speak the speech I pray you as I pronounced it to you trippingly on the tongue; but if you mouth it, as many of our players do, I had as lief the town-crier spoke my lines."

 

LOL --Thanks for that!!! Your choice of the line is particularly resonant.

 

Here’s another example

 

Thank you! I am indeed proud, fun side story, my last name "Stolt" means "proud" in Swedish

 

Thanks

 

Thanks

 

Thank you

 

Thanks! Yes its a fantastic type. I need to get one of the "larger bust" specimens that you have.

 

Thanks

 

Excellent capture, @Michael Stolt ! Beautiful coin. Well done.

I really like.

 

Wow! That's a sharply-struck and well-preserved beauty, @Michael Stolt ! You're justifiably proud to add that one!

Here's a similar issue ...


Antony and Octavia.
AR cistophorus, 25.6 mm, 11.71 gm.
Ephesus, 39 BCE.
Obv: M ANTONINVS IMP COS DESIG ITER ET TERT, Jugate heads of Marcus Antonius and Octavia to right; he wears ivy wreath.
Rev: III VIR RPC, Cista mystica surmounted by figure of Bacchus, standing to left, holding cantharus and leaning on thyrsus; on either side, coiled serpent.
Refs: SNG Cop. 408; SNG von Aulock 6555; Franke KZR 472; RSC 3; Sydenham 1198; RPC 2202; Sear 1513; BMCRR East 135-137.

 

Thank you!

 

Excellent coin and quality, I have the dual portrait version