Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra AR Denarius, Victory over Armenia issue

Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra - AR Denarius

34 v. Chr., Alexandria; 3,77 g. Kopf r., dahinter armenische Tiara//Drapierte Büste r. mit Diadem, davor Prora. Bab. 95; BMC 179; Crawf. 543/1; Sear 345; Syd. Vergl. 1210 ff.

obverse; CLEOPATRAE REGINAE REGVM FILIORVM REGVM

reverse; ANTONI ARMENIA DEVICTA

A historically interesting and important piece, just a bit flat struck on the hair of M Antonius and Cleopatra as well. A pleasing patina and great portraits of both. Difficult to acquire in this condition.

Cleopatra VII, the last queen of Egypt and the mistress of Marcus Anthony, is entitled "Queen of Kings" on this piece. This title, which corresponds to the title of emperor and which had previously only been worn by the Achaemenides, was bestowed on Cleopatra by Marcus Antonius a few days after the mighty triumphal procession on the occasion of the victory over Armenia, which took place in Alexandria to the great indignation of the Romans. The children of Cleopatra were also raised to kings on this occasion; this is also mentioned on the coin. The Prora on the lapel refers to the responsibility of Cleopatra for the fleet building program of Anthony. 30 BC elected Cleopatra VII. The suicide by poison (but, as Christoph Schäfer has proven, not by the bite of a venomous snake) in order not to be carried along in Octavian's triumphal procession. Cleopatra had caused her personal physician Olympos to spread the legend that she had died from the bite of a cobra in order to be revered as Nea Isis. For the death of Cleopatra, see Schäfer, Christoph, Cleopatra, Darmstadt 2006, p. 244 ff.

Provenance from Fritz Rudolf Keunker;

from the collection of Heinrich Rudolf Peter;

Fritz Rudolf Künker 168, Osnabrück 2003, Nr. 44.

Référence : Crawford 543/1;

Collection : Roman Imperatorial collection