Portrait Marc Antony/Octavian

Here is an old purchase I got from JA. Price was right. Been very happy to have a Marc A. portrait coin in my collection.


Below it is my secret santa gift.


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

This series of coins commemorates the establishment of the second Triumvirate of November 43 B.C. between Antony, Octavian and Lepidus. Both sides bear the inscription "III VIR R P C", meaning "One of Three Men for the Regulation of the Republic. Within a few years Antony would depart Italy for the Eastern provinces.

The moneyer for this coin is M. Barbatius Pollio who was also a Questor in 41 BC. Barbatius bears the title of "Quaestor pro praetore" abbreviated to QP a distinction shared by his colleague L. Gelllius.



Marc Antony (44 - 30 B.C.)
AR Denarius
O: ANT AVG III VIR R P C, Praetorian galley right.
R: LEG III Aquila between two signa; LEG III across lower field.
Patrae mint 32-31 B.C .
3.14g
18mm
Crawford 544/15; CRI 350; Sydenham 1217; RSC 28

Legio III Gallica was levied by Julius Caesar around 49 BC, for his civil war against the conservative republicans led by Pompey.

The legion took part in all Julius Caesar's campaigns against his enemies, including the battles of Pharsalus and Munda. Following Caesar's death, III Gallica was integrated in the army of Mark Antony for his campaigns against the Parthians. They were included in the army levied by Fulvia and Lucius Antonius (Antony's wife and brother) to oppose Octavian, but ended by surrendering in Perugia, in the winter of 41 BC. After the battle of Actium and Antony's suicide, the III Gallica was sent again to the East, where they garrisoned the province of Syria.

III Gallica was used in Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo's campaign against the Parthians over the control of Armenia (63). Corbulo's successes triggered emperor Nero's paranoia of persecution and eventually the general was forced to commit suicide. After this, III Gallica is transferred to Moesia province, in the Danube border.

 

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WOW! Nice Mat. They look great... gently circulated! That Ant/Oct has a great amount of the legend.

I have NONE with Marc Antony and Octavian on the same coin. Cool!

I do have a Legio III... great history.

 

@Mat Very nice. A very historical coin.

 

Great coin, Brian

 

i'd love to have an MA an octavian!

 

A very decent MA/Octavian you got here @Mat
Although you tend to buy circulated coins, you always have an eye for examples with great character

Well done
Q

 

You've seen all my to the point I'm sure everyone is sick of 'em. I have bid on several MA legionary coins in the past couple of months, only to be outbid/sniped at the last minute.

Anyway, both are good coins. My choice would be the portrait coin, but if you're giving either away, just send them to me.

 

I just watched the movie Cleopatra with Elizabeth Taylor. I had not seen it since I was a kid. For the time the movie was made they got the history pretty good all things considered. They refer to coins as political tools a couple of times.

 

Nice coins, Alde, especially the bottom.

 

Whoa => I can't believe that you bought something from JA ... did they let him out of prison?



... I like JA (he's a good dude)

 

Nah, I think he's still in the big house. Just gettin' the coins smuggled in in his weekly cake.

 

I got homies on the outside.

 

I've bought plenty from JA. Potin Tets, Medieval, to name a few.

 

Oooops, sorry JA ... I obviously didn't mean to slander you (my bad)

Coincidentally, I am also the fella that coined you as "Honest John"

=> which you certainly are !!

You're top-drawer, top-notch ... you rock

 

The OP coin is actually much, MUCH better in hand. The lighting angles in that pic emphasized all the little flaws, but they're not that prominent in real life. When I first saw it I though, "Wow, two great busts and lots of lettering!"

 

*edit*

Sounds right

 

Nice Big-Head-vs-Small-Head example, Mat. Never underestimate those Small Head dudes!

 

Nice Mat! A very sweet addition.

 

Nice coin, Mat.
Plenty of character on that M.A and Octavian denarius. I like it.
A type con that I am still missing.

 

Great coin, Zumbly.

Thanks, Randy & Eduard.