Crawford 544/12 ANT.AVG III.VIR.R.P.C, Denarius (M. Antonius)

M. Antonius Denarius

32/31 BC

Avers: War galley with cepter at prow, above ANT AVG, below III VIR R P C.

Revers: CHORTIS.SPECVLATORVM; 3 standards, each decorated with 2 wreaths and a prow

3,10 Gramm

Albert 1713, Crawford 544/12

The speculatores commemorated on Antony's coin were army espionage men and messengers (cf. www.romanarmytalk.com). Their 'plain clothes' work would be in enemy terrain, disguised as deserters or traveling merchants, gaining access to the enemy camps and forts. This sort of work made them highly independent, but most of them likely functioned within normal military infrastructure, attached to every legion. As such, they would take orders via the usual chain of command, reporting to their own centurions and tribunes, the legion legate and/or the provincial governor (who would have kept a number of them on his staff). Thus, they differed from the Imperial era speculatores of the praetorian guard, which had more of an internal security function. What is curious about this Antony coin type is it suggests a separate division of speculatores rather than roles integrated within a legion. [Andrew McCabe]

ex: Jean Elsen & Fils s.a., Bruxelles

A die match in American Numismatic society

Collection : Roman Republic + Imperatorial