Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XX 29-30 Oct 2020
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Marc Antony AR Denarius. Military mint moving with Antony, late summer-autumn 38 BC. M•ANT•AVG•III•VIR•R•P•C, bare head right / IMP-TER Trophy with figure-of-eight shield attached to each arm; at its base, two spears and two round shields. Crawford 536/3 note; CRI 272; BMCRR East 149; RSC 18b. 3.75g, 21mm, 12h.
Near Mint State; mark on cheek, attractive deep old cabinet tone. Very Rare.
From the Andrew McCabe Collection;
Ex Numismatica Genevensis SA, Auction 7, 27 November 2012, lot 319 (hammer: CHF 3,200);
Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 96, 14 May 2014, lot 729;
Ex Tradart S.A., 16 November 1995, lot 146.
The Parthians had been well aware of Caesar's ambitions to invade their territory, and during the civil war that followed the dictator's assassination, they actively supported the cause of the Liberators, sending a contingent of troops which fought with them at the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC. Following that defeat the pro-republican general Titus Labienus, who had lately served as Cassius' ambassador to Parthia, assisted the Parthians in their bid to invade the Eastern Roman territories. Along with the Parthian prince Pacorus, Labienus commanded the invasion forces which swept into Syria and down the Phoenician coast. Distracted first by his dalliance with Cleopatra, then by his wife Fulvia, in the following year Marc Antony eventually dispatched his lieutenant Publius Ventidius Bassus with eleven legions to drive back the invaders. Ventidius first surprised and defeated Labienus at the Cilician Gates, executing the traitor, then encountered a Parthian army at the Amanus pass which he also defeated. Finally in the spring of 38 at the Battle of Cyrrhestica, Ventidius inflicted an overwhelming defeat against the Parthians which resulted in the death of Pacorus. Antony at this point hurried to take command of Ventidius' forces in the prosecution of a campaign of reprisal against Antiochus of Commagene, who had aided the Parthians. Ventidius meanwhile was pensioned off back to Rome, where he became the first Roman to celebrate a triumph over the Parthians.
Near Mint State; mark on cheek, attractive deep old cabinet tone. Very Rare.
From the Andrew McCabe Collection;
Ex Numismatica Genevensis SA, Auction 7, 27 November 2012, lot 319 (hammer: CHF 3,200);
Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 96, 14 May 2014, lot 729;
Ex Tradart S.A., 16 November 1995, lot 146.
The Parthians had been well aware of Caesar's ambitions to invade their territory, and during the civil war that followed the dictator's assassination, they actively supported the cause of the Liberators, sending a contingent of troops which fought with them at the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC. Following that defeat the pro-republican general Titus Labienus, who had lately served as Cassius' ambassador to Parthia, assisted the Parthians in their bid to invade the Eastern Roman territories. Along with the Parthian prince Pacorus, Labienus commanded the invasion forces which swept into Syria and down the Phoenician coast. Distracted first by his dalliance with Cleopatra, then by his wife Fulvia, in the following year Marc Antony eventually dispatched his lieutenant Publius Ventidius Bassus with eleven legions to drive back the invaders. Ventidius first surprised and defeated Labienus at the Cilician Gates, executing the traitor, then encountered a Parthian army at the Amanus pass which he also defeated. Finally in the spring of 38 at the Battle of Cyrrhestica, Ventidius inflicted an overwhelming defeat against the Parthians which resulted in the death of Pacorus. Antony at this point hurried to take command of Ventidius' forces in the prosecution of a campaign of reprisal against Antiochus of Commagene, who had aided the Parthians. Ventidius meanwhile was pensioned off back to Rome, where he became the first Roman to celebrate a triumph over the Parthians.