The fleet grows. Part II.

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Michael Stolt, May 28, 2019.

  1. Michael Stolt

    Michael Stolt Well-Known Member

    Hello everyone!

    Today was a very nice day for me as I finally picked up my much anticipated Mark Antony "Fleet coinage" Tressis from my local dealer. This is an extremely rare denomination that I am extremely happy to be able to add to my growing fleet collection.

    TressisPNG.png

    Mark Antony. 38-37 BC. Æ Tressis (32mm, 25.78 g). Naval base in Greece (at Piraeus?); M. Oppius Capito, propraetor and praefectus classicus.

    Obverse: M•ANT•IMP•TERT•COS•DESIG•ITER•ET•TER•III•VIR•R•P•C - Conjoined bare heads of Mark Antony and Octavian right, facing draped bust of Octavia left.

    Reverse: M•OPPIVS•CAPITO•PRO•PR•PRAEF•CLASS•F•C - Three galleys under sail to right. Γ (Gamma) and Triskeles below.

    Reference: RPC I 1463

    "These unusual coins are examples of Mark Antony's "fleet coinage," a series of bronzes in multiple, clearly marked denominations issued shortly after Antony's marriage alliance with Octavian, the nephew of Julius Caesar. The exact dates, the nature and purpose of the series have been the subject of much debate. David Sear places the commencement of the series in the summer of 38 BC at a still unidentified Eastern mint. The coins were struck in the names of Antony and three of his admirals--L. Sempronius Atratinus, M. Oppius Capito, and L. Calpurnius Bibulus, and falls into two distinct series, "heavy" and "light." Most of the coins depict overlapping, confronting or Janiform portraits of Antony and Octavia, his wife and Octavian's sister. A few also show Octavian, in a clearly subsidiary position. Reverses almost all feature nautical themes--galleys under full sail, or figures in chariots drawn by hippocamps. The admiral's names, themes, and the combination of Greek and Latin letters indicate the coins may have been used to pay sailors in Antony's fleet, and were intended for circulation in his Eastern realm. An intriguing feature of the series is the range of denominations, all Roman, all clearly marked in Greek letters. They range from a large bronze sestertius, previously a small silver coin, marked HS in Latin and the Greek letter-numeral D, or four, indicating a value of four asses. Next comes an unusual denomination, the tressis, or three asses, marked G; then the dupondius, two asses, marked B; and the as, marked A. The series is completed by two fractions, a semis and quadrans, marked S and with three dots (three unciae) respectively.

    M. Oppius Capito was Antony’s senior naval officer, stationed at the main naval base at Piraeus. His coins are found distributed around central Greece, and were most likely struck at Piraeus. His coins are found in two series, a heavy and a light and it has been suggested that some were struck at Tarentum where part of Antony’s fleet was based during the joint action against Sextus Pompey in 37-36 BC

    Although this experimental coinage was short-lived and very rare today, it is interesting to note that the great currency reform started by Octavian, after he had taken the name Augustus and become the first Emperor of Rome, resulted in a bronze coinage using exactly the same denominations as Anthony's fleet issues."

    Here are the other types in the fleet series that I have in my collection so far.

    fleet coinage.jpg

    Coin 1:

    Mark Antony and Octavia, struck by M. Oppius Capito, Propraetor and Praefectus classis ca 38-37 BC. AE As, light series (16mm, 3.69g.) Minted at Piraeus(?).

    Obverse: M•ANT•IMP•TERT•COS•DESIG•ITER•ET•III•VIR• RPC; Jugate busts of Mark Antony and Octavia right.

    Reverse: M•OPPIVS•CAPITO•PRO•PR•PRAEF•CLASS•F•C; Galley right; below, A.

    Reference: RPC I 1470

    Coin 2:

    Mark Antony, struck by L. Bibulus M.f., praetor designatus ca 38-37 BC. Æ Semis (20mm, 3.61g). Uncertain mint in Syria.

    Obverse: M•ANT•TER•COS•DES• ITER•ET•TER•III•VIR•R•P•C, bare head right.

    Reverse: L•BIBVLVS•M•F•PR•DESIG, quinquereme right, with three oars and stern ending in boar's head left.

    Reference: RPC I 4092 (unique variation)

    Coin 3:

    Mark Anthony, with Octavia. Circa 38-37 BC. Æ Sestertius (40mm, 30.16 g). M. Oppius Capito, propraetor and praefectus classis. Minted at Piraeus(?).

    Obverse: M ANT • IMP TER COS DES ITER ET TER III VIR R• P • C •, bare head of Antony right vis-à-vis head of Octavia left.

    Reverse: M • OPPIVS • CAPITIO • P[R) • PR • PRAEF • CLASS • F • C • - Mark Antony and Octavia in quadriga of hippocamps; in l. field, HS and below, Δ and astragalus.

    Reference: RPC I 1462.3
     
    Last edited: May 28, 2019
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  3. Theodosius

    Theodosius Fine Style Seeker

    Very interesting, I have never heard of these before. It must have taken some time to find all of them.

    John
     
    Michael Stolt likes this.
  4. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Never heard or have seen these before either. Cool and congrats.
     
    Michael Stolt likes this.
  5. red_spork

    red_spork Triumvir monetalis

    Congrats on finally getting this coin in hand. This is really an amazing example of this very rare type and probably my favorite coin of your collection.
     
    Michael Stolt likes this.
  6. Michael Stolt

    Michael Stolt Well-Known Member

    Thank you very very much :) It was a long wait but very much worth it.

    I hope you get into these at some point, hard to describe how impressive the heavy ones are in hand.
     
  7. Michael Stolt

    Michael Stolt Well-Known Member

    Thank you very much. Most types in the series are exceedingly rare. And all of the specimens that were in RBW's collection were donated to the ANS making the market extremely tight for almost all but the light As and the Semis.
     
  8. Michael Stolt

    Michael Stolt Well-Known Member

    Thank you very much. It's an exceedingly rare coinage for most the heavy denominations. Plus RBW donated all his specimens to the ANS. I must admit I have been extremely lucky in finding the four I have in just about 2 years time.
     
    Theodosius and TypeCoin971793 like this.
  9. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Wow, what a coin and what a set! Congratulations! :)
     
    Michael Stolt likes this.
  10. Michael Stolt

    Michael Stolt Well-Known Member

    Thank you very much :)
     
  11. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Amazing find on those highly collectible coins. I wish I had one.
     
    Michael Stolt likes this.
  12. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Impressive set,
    Highly interesting historical background to these coins. Thanks for sharing

    Q
     
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  13. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Absolutely fantastic coin, still with great detail. Congrats very rare coin indeed.
     
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  14. Michael Stolt

    Michael Stolt Well-Known Member

    Thank you very much :)
     
  15. Michael Stolt

    Michael Stolt Well-Known Member

    Thank you very much!
     
  16. Michael Stolt

    Michael Stolt Well-Known Member

    Thank you :)
     
  17. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    That is one great coin all things considered. Congratulations!
     
    Michael Stolt likes this.
  18. Ocatarinetabellatchitchix

    Ocatarinetabellatchitchix Well-Known Member

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