Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXVII 22-23 Mar 2023
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Marc Antony and Octavia AV Aureus. Military mint moving with Antony, Athens, 38 BC. M•ANTONIVS•M•Γ•M•N•AVGVR•IMP•TIIRT, bare head of Antony to right / COS•DIISIG•ITIIR•IIT•TIIRT•III•VIR•R•P•C, bare head of Octavia to right. Crawford 533/3b; CRI 268a; BMCRR East p. 508; Calicó 116 (same dies). 8.03g, 20mm, 11h.
Very Fine. Extremely Rare; only one other example on CoinArchives.
The exceptional rarity of this coin can be attributed to its legends on both the obverse and reverse; in which the more common letter 'E' of 'TERT' is replaced with 'II'. This legend is found on only one pair of dies, which were likely engraved by a local Athenian engraver (CRI p.171). Joseph Eckhel notes that the variation in spelling likely dates this coin towards the very end of the Roman Republic and, if it is accepted that Marc Antony was acclaimed Imperator Tertio (for the third time) in 38 BC, then there is a two-year period in which coins of both legend variations must have been struck (BMCRR p.508, note).
The two portraits belong to Marc Antony on the obverse and, Octavia, sister of Octavian, on the reverse. By 38 BC tensions between Antony and Octavian had been simmering for some time, punctuated by key inflection points, such as their battle for political power in the Second Triumvirate and the Perusine War in 41 BC, during which Antony's first wife Fulvia fought against Octavian before being exiled. This coin could be seen to symbolise a time of truce between the two men after a troublesome past.
This was the final representation of Octavia on the coinage of Antony, as the alliance between her husband and brother disintegrated shortly after it was stuck. When her first husband C. Claudius Marcellus died in 40 BC, Octavia's subsequent union with Antony sealed the treaty of Brundisium signed in the same year, in which Antony and Octavian divided control of the Roman world between them, with the latter assuming control of the west and the former the east. To cement their alliance further, Antony's eldest son was betrothed to Octavian's daughter Julia, then only an infant. The following year the efforts to ensure peace in the Empire were consolidated when an agreement was reached with Sextus Pompey at Misenum, after which Antony returned to Athens to spend the winter with Octavia. The dating of this coin is therefore reinforced, as it seems likely that these dual-portrait coins were issued after Antony's return to Athens to commemorate his brief reconciliation with Octavia.
This portrait of Octavia differs from earlier representations in expression, features and the elaborate treatment of her hair. This style is more consistent with representations of Victory (H. Appold Grueber, Coins of the Roman Republic in the British Museum, vol. 2, p. 508). This is particularly noteworthy when it is considered that Octavia, alongside Livia, Octavian's wife, was granted sacrosanctitas, making it illegal to verbally insult her, as well as being pardoned from male guardianship, both of which were extraordinary achievements in Roman society. Furthermore, although they divorced in 33 BC, Octavia raised all of Antony's surviving children, including children by Fulvia and Cleopatra, three of whom Antony sired while married to Octavia. She has been characterised by her qualities of loyalty, nobility and humility, qualities which are perhaps referenced in this representation which alludes to the goddess Victory.
There are only two further known examples of this extremely rare type with this variation of legend: one was held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art for almost one hundred years prior to being sold in Sotheby's Metropolitan Museum of Art sale (Part I, 10 November 1972, lot 11), where it was described as being "of the highest rarity and probably unique."; the other came to sale earlier this year (CNG, Triton XXIV, lot 979) and realised a hammer price of USD 55,000.
Very Fine. Extremely Rare; only one other example on CoinArchives.
The exceptional rarity of this coin can be attributed to its legends on both the obverse and reverse; in which the more common letter 'E' of 'TERT' is replaced with 'II'. This legend is found on only one pair of dies, which were likely engraved by a local Athenian engraver (CRI p.171). Joseph Eckhel notes that the variation in spelling likely dates this coin towards the very end of the Roman Republic and, if it is accepted that Marc Antony was acclaimed Imperator Tertio (for the third time) in 38 BC, then there is a two-year period in which coins of both legend variations must have been struck (BMCRR p.508, note).
The two portraits belong to Marc Antony on the obverse and, Octavia, sister of Octavian, on the reverse. By 38 BC tensions between Antony and Octavian had been simmering for some time, punctuated by key inflection points, such as their battle for political power in the Second Triumvirate and the Perusine War in 41 BC, during which Antony's first wife Fulvia fought against Octavian before being exiled. This coin could be seen to symbolise a time of truce between the two men after a troublesome past.
This was the final representation of Octavia on the coinage of Antony, as the alliance between her husband and brother disintegrated shortly after it was stuck. When her first husband C. Claudius Marcellus died in 40 BC, Octavia's subsequent union with Antony sealed the treaty of Brundisium signed in the same year, in which Antony and Octavian divided control of the Roman world between them, with the latter assuming control of the west and the former the east. To cement their alliance further, Antony's eldest son was betrothed to Octavian's daughter Julia, then only an infant. The following year the efforts to ensure peace in the Empire were consolidated when an agreement was reached with Sextus Pompey at Misenum, after which Antony returned to Athens to spend the winter with Octavia. The dating of this coin is therefore reinforced, as it seems likely that these dual-portrait coins were issued after Antony's return to Athens to commemorate his brief reconciliation with Octavia.
This portrait of Octavia differs from earlier representations in expression, features and the elaborate treatment of her hair. This style is more consistent with representations of Victory (H. Appold Grueber, Coins of the Roman Republic in the British Museum, vol. 2, p. 508). This is particularly noteworthy when it is considered that Octavia, alongside Livia, Octavian's wife, was granted sacrosanctitas, making it illegal to verbally insult her, as well as being pardoned from male guardianship, both of which were extraordinary achievements in Roman society. Furthermore, although they divorced in 33 BC, Octavia raised all of Antony's surviving children, including children by Fulvia and Cleopatra, three of whom Antony sired while married to Octavia. She has been characterised by her qualities of loyalty, nobility and humility, qualities which are perhaps referenced in this representation which alludes to the goddess Victory.
There are only two further known examples of this extremely rare type with this variation of legend: one was held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art for almost one hundred years prior to being sold in Sotheby's Metropolitan Museum of Art sale (Part I, 10 November 1972, lot 11), where it was described as being "of the highest rarity and probably unique."; the other came to sale earlier this year (CNG, Triton XXIV, lot 979) and realised a hammer price of USD 55,000.