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June 2017 Auction 9 Jun 2017
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REPUBLIC, GOLD AUREUS OF MARK ANTONY AND OCTAVIAN, Ephesus, ca. 41 BC, 8.056g, 1h. Calicó 109. Very rare. Lightly toned with underlying luster. Perfectly centered and struck. With two appealing portraits of fine style. Choice extremely fine. Former Rubicon collection, Heritage Auctions 2011 (3015) lot 23270
From the outset of their acquaintance, Mark Antony and Octavian were at odds. Both were ambitious, and were closely associated with Julius Caesar, yet their qualifications and temperaments could hardly have been less alike. Antony was then in his thirties and was an experienced soldier who had earned his reputation by serving loyally at Caesar's side, while Octavian was but eighteen, an unproven student whose association with Caesar was through family, for his mother was Caesar's niece. They issued coins, during their periods of cooperation, for each other, including this aureus struck not long after they had combined their armies to defeat the Republican leaders Brutus and Cassius.
From the outset of their acquaintance, Mark Antony and Octavian were at odds. Both were ambitious, and were closely associated with Julius Caesar, yet their qualifications and temperaments could hardly have been less alike. Antony was then in his thirties and was an experienced soldier who had earned his reputation by serving loyally at Caesar's side, while Octavian was but eighteen, an unproven student whose association with Caesar was through family, for his mother was Caesar's niece. They issued coins, during their periods of cooperation, for each other, including this aureus struck not long after they had combined their armies to defeat the Republican leaders Brutus and Cassius.