Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 398 31 May 2017
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The Triumvirs. Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Autumn 34 BC. AR Denarius (16mm, 2.49 g, 1h). Alexandria mint. Bare head of Mark Antony right; four-pointed Armenian tiara behind / Diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra right; stem of prow before. Crawford 543/1; CRI 345; Sydenham 1210; RSC 1. Near Fine, rough and porous surfaces.
The consensus of opinion on the date and mint of this coin was relatively uniform until the publication by R. Newman, A Dialogue of Power in the Coinage of Antony and Octavian" in AJN 2 (1990), pp. 37-64. Sear (CRI) follows Newman in calling it an issue from Alexandria struck for Antony's Armenian triumph of the autumn of 34 BC, when the "celebrated and enigmatic" (per Sear) "Donations of Alexandria" took place. Newman states the minting of this coin "must have taken place in 34, the year of Antony's Alexandrian triumph, since it would otherwise be without context." The legends on this coin could be translated as "[coin] of Antony, with Armenia being Conquered, for Cleopatra, Queen of Kings and of her Sons, being Kings." The Armenian crown behind Antony represents his victorious Roman army, the prow beneath Cleopatra (which appears on no other Roman coin of hers) stands for the mighty Egyptian fleet; combined they symbolize the full array of forces that Antony would soon marshal against Octavian. "
The consensus of opinion on the date and mint of this coin was relatively uniform until the publication by R. Newman, A Dialogue of Power in the Coinage of Antony and Octavian" in AJN 2 (1990), pp. 37-64. Sear (CRI) follows Newman in calling it an issue from Alexandria struck for Antony's Armenian triumph of the autumn of 34 BC, when the "celebrated and enigmatic" (per Sear) "Donations of Alexandria" took place. Newman states the minting of this coin "must have taken place in 34, the year of Antony's Alexandrian triumph, since it would otherwise be without context." The legends on this coin could be translated as "[coin] of Antony, with Armenia being Conquered, for Cleopatra, Queen of Kings and of her Sons, being Kings." The Armenian crown behind Antony represents his victorious Roman army, the prow beneath Cleopatra (which appears on no other Roman coin of hers) stands for the mighty Egyptian fleet; combined they symbolize the full array of forces that Antony would soon marshal against Octavian. "