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Marcus Antonius, Octavia
"Is it because I sleep with the queen? Is she not my wife? What is so novel about this? (M. Antony)" The marriage of Octavia to Antony was warmly welcomed as a guarantee of lasting peace. On one side, Octavian’s affection for his sister, and on the other, Octavia’s charm, admirable character, and widely praised beauty, were expected to grant her influence over her husband and his actions.
Between 40 and 36 BCE, while they lived in Athens raising their children, Mark Antony appeared to have forgotten Cleopatra, and Octavia often acted as a mediator in the growing misunderstandings and disputes between her husband and her brother. However, in 32 BCE, as war erupted, Antony initiated a formal divorce and declared Cleopatra VII, Queen of Egypt, as his wife, recognizing her son by Caesar, Caesarion, as Caesar's legitimate heir.
Denomination: Cistophorus, Ag
Obverse: Conjoined heads of Antony, wearing wreath of ivy, and Octavia to right, M ANTONIVS•IMP•COS•DESIG•ITER ET TERT
Reverse: Dionysus, holding cantharus in his right hand and thyrsus with his left, standing left on cista mystica flanked by interlaced serpents with heads erect, III•VIR• R•P•C
Mint: Ephesus, summer-autumn 39 B.C.
Weight: 11,71 g
Diameter: 24,5mm
Provenance: Fritz Rudolf Künker, ex Mark & Lottie Salton Collection
Référence : Crawford 517/2 RPC I 2202, RSC 3
Collection : RES PUBLICA ROMANA 02 - Imperial