He had 24 legions of between 4,500-5,000 foot soldiers in each legion drawing approximately 225-300 dinarii a year. Millions were produced, tens of thousands survive today and yet most ancient coin collectors would want to own one. I know I've always wanted to have a decent example. Picked up this one issued to legion IV recently and although the reverse is a bit off centre, I thought the strike is strong and the metal appears to be of good quality. I would like to think a decent nearly uncircularised example. A bit of post-purchase research seems to indicate that legion IV denarii do quite well in auctions (HA sold 2 good examples in 2020 for almost $2,000 each). At less than half that price, suddenly my purchase doesn't look too bad. Marc Antony Legionary AR Denarius. Military mint moving with Antony, autumn 32 - spring 31 BC. ANT•AVG III•VIR•R•P•C, praetorian galley to right / Aquila between two signa; LEG IV across fields. Crawford 544/17; CRI 352; BMCRR East 195; RSC 30. 3.61g, 17mm, 6h. Would love to hear your views and see some examples of MA's legionary denarii, maybe an AV example
A legionary denarius I got last year, also my first Republican coin, LEG-XX. It only cost me 25 bucks, so can't complain!
Nice example @1934 Wreath Crown Here's my own LEG IV Mark Antony, Denarius - struck at a travelling mint, c.32-31 BC ANT AVG III VIR RPC, Galley right LEG IV, Legionary eagle between two standards 3.67 gr Ref : HCRI #352, Cohen #30 Q
I got this one off eBay when eBay was in its infancy--well, toddlerhood, actually--and I was just getting started as an ancient collector. I was a grad student and had very little money to spend on coins at the time, so I was lucky to find anything in my price range. Yet despite its scruffy appearance, this coin has remained in my collection all these years: Silver Denarius Traveling legionary mint Obv: ANT AVG / IIIVIR RPC - Galley Rev: LEG XIX - Legionary eagle between two standards 17mm, 3.4g. Someone, I think a CT member, has put together a web site that lists the rarity of the different legions. Anyone have a link handy?
While the coin is very nice, the centering leaving a bit of question as to the legion number being IV or IX reduces the merits in some of our minds. The coin posted by Cucumbor has more wear but would be preferable in my mind to the OP coin. I am sure this is not the opinion of many including some that do not care in the least about things like legion numbers. On the other end, we have a member here who has the complete set of these to whom the numbers are everything.
Doug I can't see the last number being an X as it's font would be disproportionately large......and that would not be acceptable to 'Word'
Here's my Legion III that I bought last year from @John Anthony : "Well-worn but with character" as I'd describe it.
I'm not sure if this is the link you're thinking of: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=70907.0
Marc Antony Legionary Denarius Legion II 32-31 BC Obv Galley facing right Rv. Legionary eagle flanked by two standards. Crawford 544/15 CRI 350 3.75 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen Once more these coins stayed in circulation seeming forever. Many years ago I bought a small hoard of Roman denarii and antoninianii from a friend. This group was part of a much larger assemblage and ended with Gordian III. As I remember the group I can say that even the Gordian III coins showed some slight evidence of being worn so that the hoard may have been deposited even later. The oldest coin in the hoard was a denarius of Marc Antony of the legionary type. It was too badly worn to be identified as belonging to a specific legion. But it does offer testament to the longevity of this coin remaining in circulation.
I wonder if people later in the years knew that they were holding a coin made during the significant turning point of their civilization, or did they just see it as a good quality silver from a couple of centuries ago!
It was known in ancient times that Antony had debased these denarii. It is probably why they circulated for so long. Less incentive to melt them down for restriking.
In economics, Gresham's law is a monetary principle stating that "bad money drives out good". For example, if there are two forms of commodity money in circulation, which are accepted by law as having similar face value, the more valuable commodity will gradually disappear from circulation. The less valuable will circulate more. This is the main reason most MA denarii are well worn.
RImp Marc Antony 32-31 BCE AR Denarius Legio X Equestris - Caesar Denarius B bankers mark Eagle Galley Standards Roman Imperatorial Marcus Antonius AR Denarius 32-31 BCE Legio III Ship Eagle Standards Sear 1479 Craw 544-15
Indeed, I think there is little doubt that this is Leg IV given the alignment; however, you may be interested in searching the RDP die study for this these dies here: http://numismatics.org/archives/ark:/53695/schaefer.rrdp.b14#schaefer.rrdp.b14_0109 (see pages 78,79, 81, and 83)