Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3072 15-16 Jan 2019
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Mark Antony as Imperator (44-43 BC), with Divus Julius Caesar. AR denarius (17mm, 6h). ANACS VF25. Military mint traveling with Antony in Cisalpine Gaul, April-November 43 BC. M. ANTON IMP, bearded head of Mark Antony right, lituus behind / CAESAR DIC, laureate head of Caesar right; behind, jug. Crawford 488/1. CRI 118. RCV 1464. RSC 4. Rare! Decent strike with somewhat crystalized metal.
This unusual issue was struck by Mark Antony during the confused interlude following his defeat by Senatorial forces at Mutina in Northern Italy in April, 43 BC. The short, sharp war was the result of the Senate having fallen under the influence of Cicero and other anti-Caesarian forces, even though one of the consuls, Aulus Hirtius, had been a supporter of Caesar. Caesar's nephew and heir Octavian masterfully played all angles during this period and ended up benefitting when Hirtius and his consular colleague were both killed in the battle, leaving Octavian in effective command of eight Senatorial legions. Defeated but not crushed, Antony and his legions retreated into Cisalpine Gaul and played a waiting game while Octavian returned to Rome and became ensnared in Senatorial politics. Antony greatly strengthened his position by forming an alliance with another Caesarian, Marcus Aemlius Lepidus, governor of Transalpine Gaul and Spain, giving them control of 17 legions. The dual portraits of Antony and Caesar on this denarius type were no doubt intended to remind soldiers and civilians alike of Antony's unswerving loyalty to Caesar and his memory. The interlude ended seven months later when Antony, Octavian and Lepidus made common cause against Caesar's assassins and formed the Second Triumvirate.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 600-1000 USD
Mark Antony as Imperator (44-43 BC), with Divus Julius Caesar. AR denarius (17mm, 6h). ANACS VF25. Military mint traveling with Antony in Cisalpine Gaul, April-November 43 BC. M. ANTON IMP, bearded head of Mark Antony right, lituus behind / CAESAR DIC, laureate head of Caesar right; behind, jug. Crawford 488/1. CRI 118. RCV 1464. RSC 4. Rare! Decent strike with somewhat crystalized metal.
This unusual issue was struck by Mark Antony during the confused interlude following his defeat by Senatorial forces at Mutina in Northern Italy in April, 43 BC. The short, sharp war was the result of the Senate having fallen under the influence of Cicero and other anti-Caesarian forces, even though one of the consuls, Aulus Hirtius, had been a supporter of Caesar. Caesar's nephew and heir Octavian masterfully played all angles during this period and ended up benefitting when Hirtius and his consular colleague were both killed in the battle, leaving Octavian in effective command of eight Senatorial legions. Defeated but not crushed, Antony and his legions retreated into Cisalpine Gaul and played a waiting game while Octavian returned to Rome and became ensnared in Senatorial politics. Antony greatly strengthened his position by forming an alliance with another Caesarian, Marcus Aemlius Lepidus, governor of Transalpine Gaul and Spain, giving them control of 17 legions. The dual portraits of Antony and Caesar on this denarius type were no doubt intended to remind soldiers and civilians alike of Antony's unswerving loyalty to Caesar and his memory. The interlude ended seven months later when Antony, Octavian and Lepidus made common cause against Caesar's assassins and formed the Second Triumvirate.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 600-1000 USD