Gaius Sosius, allie and general of Marcus Antonivs

Who was Gaius Sosius, what we know about him?

Sosius, was governor of Syria and Cilicia in 38 BC and assisted in placing King Herod on the throne, he was a staunch supporter of Marcus Antonivs, and was in a position of some power at Antoniv's naval base at Zacynthus. We know this because between 39 BC (when the base was founded) and 32 BC, a series of coins were struck under Sosius' authority (RPC 1 1290-3).

The obverse of the first two coins carries the portrait of Marcus. The reverse of issue 1 bears a Ptolemaic eagle, a reference to Antoniv's alliance with Cleopatra. The second issue, struck in 36 BC, names Sosius as imperator and carries a military trophy on the reverse, a reference to Sosius' victory in Judea. It is unusual that Sosius uses his coinage to advertise his own personal achievements rather than that of the triumvirs, though the portrait of Antonivs on the obverse underlines the fact that Sosius was acting under Antoniv's support and patronage.

Sharing here the first coin: