Watch List notes:

THE ROMAN REPUBLIC

Octavianus and Marcus Antonius. Aureus, mint moving with Octavian in South or Central Italy circa 40-39, AV 8.21 g. CAESAR – IMP Bare head of Octavian r. Rev. ANTONIVS IMP Bare head of Mark Antony r. Babelon Julia 62 and Antonia 14. C 5. Bahrfeldt 29.5 (this coin). Sydenham 1327. Sear Imperators 301. Calicó 105a (these dies). Crawford 529/1.
Extremely rare and in exceptional condition for this very difficult issue. Two interesting
portraits, light reddish tone, obverse weakly struck, otherwise about extremely fine


Ex Gilhofer & Ranschburg-Hess 22 May 1935, Trau, 71; Ratto 19 January 1956, 14; Leu 91, 2004, 492 and NAC 73, 2013, Student and his Mentor part II, 263 sales. From the collection of Shaikh Saoud Al Thani.
The relationship between Marc Antony and Octavian was adversarial even in the best of time. They clashed twice in less than two years after Caesar's murder, after which they formed a Triumvirate with Lepidus, preferring it to a winner- take-all contest. Both lived uncomfortably in their new skins, biding time in the hope they might gain the upper hand with there passage of time. However, the battle they avoided later in 43 B.C was only postponed until they faced off at Actium a dozen years later. Their cooperation in the short term allowed Antony and Octavian to jointly defeat Brutus and Cassius at Philippi later in 42, after which victors went their separate ways: Antony departing for the east, and Octavian returning to the east. Upon arriving in Italy, Octavian was faced with the two unexpected foes, Antony's wife Fulvia and his youngest brother Lucius Antony, who took up arms against him Octavian. The young triumvir scored a military victory against them in the Perusine War, and both of his opponents died of natural causes within moths of war's end. Civil with Antony was now imminent, but was averted when the two meet in southern Italy in October 40, and signed the pact at Brundisium, by which they divided the Roman world between themselves. Not surprisingly, Antony took the east and Octavian took the west, and together they confirmed that Lepidus, the "third wheel" of triumvirate, should remain restricted to North Africa. In an effort to strengthen the new agreement, Antony entered into an ill-fated marriage with Octavian's only sister, Octavia. This rare and impressive aureus was struck at the Italian mint by Ocatvian soon after the pact was signed. The portraits are of exceptional quality, especially when compared with the more common dual-portrait struck by Antony in the East. The youth Ocatavian is shown bearded in the style that, rather ironically, is reminiscent of Brutus "Eid Mar portraits.