Marcus Antonius AR Denarius, M ANT IMP / III VIR R P C

Marcus Antonius - AR Denarius (mint moving with Marcus Antonius in 40 BC (Greece, Korkyra (?), 3.74 g) - Bare head right, lituus behind, all in dotted border / M ANT IMP Caduceus between two cornucopiae, all set on globe, III VIR R P C, all in dotted border (Crawford 520/1 / Sydenham 1189 / RSC 66) - extremely rare, obv. VF, somewhat porous surface, rev. good VF, attractive toned.

This issue of Marcus Antonius is is a enormous win for this Imperatorial collection, so are the two issues with Lucius Munatius Plancus, currently missing: the Ahenobarbus in order to complete these extraordinary coin type serie minted in 40 B.C..

Provenance purchase from a Dutch collector; from a private Dutch collection ex Heritage auctions Europe'

https://ha-europe.com/nl/bladeren/coins_currency_and_medals_november_2020/4189

On page 273 of the virtual Catalog is the same rare coin type displayed (Alan Goldman Roman Imperatorial Collection). The amazing Fulvia here was part of this exquisite collection.

This rare denarius of Marc Antony is an anomaly for the triumvir’s issues of 40 B.C. in that it is issued exclusively in his name. His other two issues attributed to this year bear the names and personal types of the naval commander Ahenobarbus and the proconsul Plancus (in collection). The portrait of Antony on this issue is particularly well engraved. Its sensitive rendering is a refreshing departure from the caricature-like portraits that appear on most other issues. The reverse type is also of some interest.

Crawford sees the caduceus and cornucopiae in combination as symbols of felicitas and Fortuna, and the globe must represent the Roman world, thus evoking a larger theme of peace and prosperity across the Mediterranean. This is an interesting proposal considering Antony and Octavian were very much at odds in 40. Early in the year Antony’s brother had been defeated by Octavian in the Perusine War and, all the while, Antony appeared to be making a pact with Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt which could only be seen as a move against Octavian. With tensions rising, the triumvirs met in Brundisium in October, where they forged a fair weather alliance that for the time being prevented a new round of civil war. It is difficult to know precisely where this small issue of denarii fits in the scheme of the events of 40 B.C., but it may have been struck in the summer, between the Perusine War and the meeting in Brundisium. Considering Antony’s recent association with Cleopatra VII, the prominence of the filleted cornucopias may be a hidden point of interest, as they were familiar emblems of Ptolemaic coinage. Not only were they the usual reverse types of the then-antique (though no doubt still familiar) coinage for Arsinoe II and Berenice II, but more recently they had appeared on the coinage that Cleopatra VII issued at Cyprus for herself and Caesarion, her infant son by Julius Caesar.

Référence : Crawford 520/1; Sydenham 1189; RSC 6

Source : https://issuu.com/cngcoins/docs/cng_virt...

Collection : Roman Imperatorial collection