Latest acquisition - Finally a dual portrait Antony & Cleopatra!

While most eyes where probably on day one of the Roma XXI auction, I had mine on the CNG e-auction that contained a great rarity.

This is the only known type with jugate busts of Antony and Cleopatra. These very rarely show up at auction, and with the current market I had doubts on being able to win it, but in the end I did. Very happy with this addition to my growing collection of Antony's eastern Æ coinage.





PHOENICIA, Dora. Mark Antony & Cleopatra. 34-33 BC. Æ (22mm, 7.28 g, 12h). Dated RY 19 (Egyptian) of Cleopatra (34/3 BC).

Obverse: Conjoined diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra, and bare head of Antony right.

Reverse: Tyche of Dora standing left, holding palm frond and caduceus; L ΘΙ (date) to left; Ω/Δ to right.

Reference: RPC I 4752.

"Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII struck many millions of coins during their combined 33 years as coin-issuers. Relatively few of these, however, were joint issues. The most familiar of these are Roman-style tetradrachms and drachms, the former apparently from a Syrian mint, the latter presumably from Alexandria or a moving mint. In both cases Cleopatra’s portrait occupies the obverse, giving it primacy over the image of Antony. The only other common issue for the couple was produced at Chalcis in Syria, dated to 32/1 B.C. It shows on its obverse the diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra, and on its reverse the bare head of Antony (RPC 4771).

All that remain are three very rare emissions, including dual-portrait types from Ake-Ptolemais and Dora, and bronzes attributed to Cyrene that bear only inscriptions naming Cleopatra and Antony (RPC 924-5).The dual-portrait bronzes of Ake-Ptolemais are dated to 35/4 B.C., and these coins (RPC 4741-2) are the exception to the rule since Antony’s portrait occupies the obverse. But this appears to have been a matter of practicality rather than political posturing since an obverse die with a masterful Antony portrait, which had been used four years earlier to strike coins solely of Antony, had been put back into service in 35/4 to strike dual-portrait issues with Cleopatra.

The final issue that certainly portrays Cleopatra and Antony is the present type (RPC 4752), struck at Dora in 34/3 B.C. In terms of iconography it is unique, being the only one to present their busts in a jugate fashion. The top-most bust is that of Cleopatra, again demonstrating her primacy. It may have had a companion issue (RPC 4753), also with jugate busts, but the identifications of its portraits – and even the issuing city – are still unsettled."

 

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Hi @Michael Stolt

Too rich for me. All I can say is Wow, Congratulations!

- Broucheion

 

Thank you!

 

Congrats, @Michael Stolt - some nose on Antony there!

ATB,
Aidan.

 

Very nice pickup!

 

Thank you. Yes the nose is quite prominent, but it is probably a die break that happened early on in the striking process as the break is visible on most known specimens.

 

Thank you!

 

Yes - it seems to be a die break - it gave him quite the nose!

ATB,
Aidan.