Mark Antony and Octavian, AR Denarius, magistrate M. Barbatius Pollio, Ephesus mint, 41 BC

Second Triumvirate: Mark Antony and Octavian, AR Denarius, magistrate M. Barbatius Pollio, Ephesus mint, Spring-Summer 41 BC, Sear 1504, RSC 8, Syd 1181, Cr517/2 (3.3 g)

Finally managed to get a “budget” specimen with a portrait of Antony.

Obverse: Head of Mark Antony, right. M ANT IMP AVG IIIVIR R P C M BARBAT Q P
Reverse: Head of Octavian right. CAESAR IMP PONT IIIVIR R P C

 

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Mines a budget too. Not sure which is worse.


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

 

Nice catch, @Amit Vyas, I have a small collection of coins from the second triumvirate (shared here). This one isn't a portrait coin but I enjoyed the theme of Concordia between Octavian and Mark Antony - especially with the graffiti that appears to be ancient, slitting a wrist on the reverse.

The Triumvirs, Octavian and Mark Antony, late 39 BC, AR Quinarius (12mm, 1.84 g, 12h), military mint traveling with Octavian in Gaul
Obv: III•VIR• R•P•C, veiled and diademed head of Concordia right
Rev: M•ANTON C•CAESAR, lasped right hands holding caduceus
Ref: Crawford 529/4b (no IMP in reverse legend) ; King 81

 

Nice @Amit Vyas !

Here is mine...


Roman Imperatorial
Marc Anthony and Octavian - Portrait Denarius.
41 BCE Military mint traveling with Antony
3.65g 18.7mm
Obv: M ANTON IMP III VIR R P C legend with bare head right, star below
Rev: CAESAR IMP III VIR R P C legend with AR in monogram and bare head right
Craw 528-2; Sear 1507; Syd 261; BMC East 121; RSC 1

 

Very nice coin. The "star", I believe, would be Caesar's comet (?). Perhaps Antony's way of telling Octavian "We may be on the same coin, but Caesar's on my side!".

 

Same with Anthony having a larger bust. Another slight.

 

Denarius of Marc Antony Minted at a mint moving with Antony 41 BC Obv Head of Antony right bare, Rv Head of Octavian right bare. Cr 517/2 CRI 243 3,83 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen Perhaps the most interesting take away of this coin is the contrasting images of the two men depicted. Antony is depicted as a mature individual with strong masculine features. His eye is alert, he has a strong jutting chin, confident smile and a big bull neck complete with Adam's apple. Octavian is depicted almost as the polar opposite with a small receding chin and a thin feminine neck. Octavian almost has a deer caught in the headlights vibe to his image. Though generally seen as a testament to their alliance this series does make a strong implied statement that Antony should be the one leading this alliance.

 

Congratulations on your pickup! Even the 'budget' issues of that issue are pricey.

Here's my 'budget' portrait Antony. Even though the coin's not the greatest, it still cost $245, even in 2009.


Mark Antony. 42 B.C. AR denarius (18 mm, 3.28 g, 11 h). Military mint traveling with Antony in Italy. Bare head of Mark Antony right, with beard; behind, lituus / Radiate head of Sol right. Crawford 496/2; HCRI 127; Sydenham 1170; RSC 68. Fine, porous.

And my only halfway decent legionary denarius:


ARCUS ANTONIUS (Marc Antony) AR silver denarius. Struck circa 32-31 BC, Patrae (?) mint. Legion XVII Classicae. Praetorian ship right, with scepter tied with fillet on prow; above, ANT AVG; below, III. VIR. R.P.C. Reverse - Aquila (eagle) between two standards; around, LEG XVII CLASSICAE. RCV 1481, Rare. 16mm, 3.4g.

 

Good catch, @Amit Vyas !

It is also interesting to note that on these denarii struck by a military mint traveling with Antonius - Crawford says Ephesus (http://davy.potdevin.free.fr/Site/crawford6.html) also here (https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=3594663), other references seem unsure and either omit it or set a question mark after Ephesus -, AVG in the obverse legend abbreviates Mark Antony’s official position as augur, while Octavian's position is Imperator Pontifex III VIR.

My Barbatius Pollio:
18 mm, 3.898 g
Crawford 517/2; CRI 243; Sydenham 1181; RSC 8a; Kestner 3793-5; BMCRR East 103; RBW 1798; Babelon (Antonia) 51, (Barbatia) 2;

Ob.: M•ANT•IMP•AVG•III•VIR•R•P•C•M•BARBAT•Q•P around bare head of Mark Antony to r.; border of dots
Rev.: CAESAR•IMP•PONT•III•VIR•R•P•C• around bare head of Octavian to r.; border of dots

​

 

Here is another Antony and Octavian "Buddy Coin" - a Quinarius featuring CONCORDIA!


RImp
Marc Antony & Octavian
AR Quinarius
1.58g
Military Mint Gaul
39BCE
O: Concordia r
R: Hands clasped caduceus
Cr-529-4b Sear 1575 Syd-1195

 

I still don't have a portrait of Antony myself, but I do have this quinarius from a joint issue of Antony & Octavian struct to celebrate their reconciliation at Brundisium in 40 BC.

Roman Imperatorial period AR quinarius(14.5mm., 1.69g), C Caesar Octavianus and Marcus Antonius, military mint with Octavian in Gaul, late 39 BC. Diademed and veiled head of Concordia right, III•VIR R•P•C around counterclockwise/Two clasped hands holding caduceus, M•ANTON C•CAESAR around counterclockwise. Crawford 529/4b; Sear HCRI 304.

"From a European Collection", Naville Numismatics Live Auction 64, 21 March 2021, lot 470, ex Dr Angelo Signorelli collection, part II, P.P. Santamaria, 4 June 1952, lot 853

 

Budget version...