Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 135 21 Nov 2022
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The Roman Republic.
Marcus Antonius and Lucius Antonius with M. Cocceius Nerva. Aureus, mint moving with M. Antonius in the East 41 BC, AV 7.92 g. M·ANT·IMP·AVG VIR·R·P C·M·NERVA PRO Q·P Bare head of Marcus Antonius r. Rev. L·ANTONIVS COS Bare head of Lucius Antonius r. Bahrfeldt 80 var. (III VIR). Sydenham 1184 var. (III VIR). C 2 var. (III VIR). Sear Imperators 245a. RBW –. Crawford 517/4b. Calicó 121 (this coin illustrated).
An exceedingly rare variety, only five specimens known, of an extremely rare issue.
Undoubtedly one of the finest specimens known of this intriguing type. Two
magnificent portraits of fine style struck on a large flan. Extremely fine
Ex Hess-Leu 41, 1969, 62; M&M 52, 1975, 502; Leu 48, 1989, 303; Sotheby's Zurich 26 October 1993, 89; NAC 8,1997, 555 and NAC 45, 2008, Barry Feirstein, 47 sales. This coin is illustrated in The Roman Aurei by X. E. Calicó.
This aureus depicts the bare heads of Marc Antonius and his youngest brother Lucius Antony. The family resemblance is uncanny, and one wonders if they truly looked this much alike, or if it is another case of portrait fusion, much like we observe with the dual-portrait billon tetradrachms of Antioch on which the face of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra VII adopts the square dimensions of Mark Antony. When Antony fled Rome to separate himself from Octavian and to take up his governorship in Gaul, Lucius accompanied him, and suffered equally from the siege of Mutina. This coin, however, was struck in a later period, when Lucius had for a second time taken up arms against Octavian in the west. Marc Antony was already in the east, and that is the region from which this coinage emanates. Since Lucius lost the 'Perusine War' he waged against Octavian, and subsequently was appointed to an office in Spain, where he died, it is likely that he never even saw one of his portrait coins. Crawford has "misgivings", yet in a coinage riddled with cacography, a simple scribal error as here is almost predictable. The die-engraver, instead of mindlessly copying his model, paused to think about what he was doing and started to make AVGVR when he returned to his senses he was obliged to continue as AVGVIR, omitting III for lack of space. The early imperial bronze coinage abounds in such errors.
Marcus Antonius and Lucius Antonius with M. Cocceius Nerva. Aureus, mint moving with M. Antonius in the East 41 BC, AV 7.92 g. M·ANT·IMP·AVG VIR·R·P C·M·NERVA PRO Q·P Bare head of Marcus Antonius r. Rev. L·ANTONIVS COS Bare head of Lucius Antonius r. Bahrfeldt 80 var. (III VIR). Sydenham 1184 var. (III VIR). C 2 var. (III VIR). Sear Imperators 245a. RBW –. Crawford 517/4b. Calicó 121 (this coin illustrated).
An exceedingly rare variety, only five specimens known, of an extremely rare issue.
Undoubtedly one of the finest specimens known of this intriguing type. Two
magnificent portraits of fine style struck on a large flan. Extremely fine
Ex Hess-Leu 41, 1969, 62; M&M 52, 1975, 502; Leu 48, 1989, 303; Sotheby's Zurich 26 October 1993, 89; NAC 8,1997, 555 and NAC 45, 2008, Barry Feirstein, 47 sales. This coin is illustrated in The Roman Aurei by X. E. Calicó.
This aureus depicts the bare heads of Marc Antonius and his youngest brother Lucius Antony. The family resemblance is uncanny, and one wonders if they truly looked this much alike, or if it is another case of portrait fusion, much like we observe with the dual-portrait billon tetradrachms of Antioch on which the face of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra VII adopts the square dimensions of Mark Antony. When Antony fled Rome to separate himself from Octavian and to take up his governorship in Gaul, Lucius accompanied him, and suffered equally from the siege of Mutina. This coin, however, was struck in a later period, when Lucius had for a second time taken up arms against Octavian in the west. Marc Antony was already in the east, and that is the region from which this coinage emanates. Since Lucius lost the 'Perusine War' he waged against Octavian, and subsequently was appointed to an office in Spain, where he died, it is likely that he never even saw one of his portrait coins. Crawford has "misgivings", yet in a coinage riddled with cacography, a simple scribal error as here is almost predictable. The die-engraver, instead of mindlessly copying his model, paused to think about what he was doing and started to make AVGVR when he returned to his senses he was obliged to continue as AVGVIR, omitting III for lack of space. The early imperial bronze coinage abounds in such errors.