Watch List notes:

The Roman Republic

Octavianus and Marcus Antonius. Aureus, Gallia Transalpina and Cisalpina 43, AV 7.97 g. C·CAESAR ·IMP·III·VIR·R·P·C·PONT·NT(ligate)·AV(ligate)G Bearded head of Octavian r. Rev. M·ANTONIVS·IMP·III ·VIR·R·P·C·AV(ligate)G Bearded head of M. Antonius r. Babelon Julia 77 and Antonia 41. C 3. Bahrfeldt 74b. Sydenham 1167. Sear Imperators 133. R. Russo, RBW collection 1720 (this coin). Crawford 493/1b. Calicó 107.
Extremely rare, apparently fifteen specimens known of this type of which only four are in
private hands. In exceptional condition for the issue and among the finest specimens
known. Two superb portraits well struck and centred on a full flan.
Light reddish tone and about extremely fine

Ex M&M XXV, 1962, 583; NFA XXII, 1989, 16 and Triton III, 1999, 830 sales. From the Moretti and RBW collections. This aureus, with its triumviral inscriptions and portraits, is of great historical interest. Not only is it among the first of Octavian's coins to acknowledge the newly formed Second Triumvirate, but its brazen display of Octavian' and Antony's portraits makes it clear that neither man was opposed to this revolutionary ideal. This aureus reveals how this novel practice in Rome of portraying living men on coinage – something that not so long ago was among the root causes of Julius Caesar's murder – was on the verge of becoming mainstream. Hereafter, Octavian and Marc Antony issued dual-portrait coinage on several occasions, each of which reflected aspects of the current state of affairs between these fair-weather allies. This issue appears to have been struck by Octavian near the end of 43 B.C., perhaps at a mobile mint traveling with him in Cisalpine Gaul. Though it acknowledges both men as members of the Second Triumvirate, Octavian takes advantage as the issuer by listing both of his priestly memberships (the pontifices and the augurs) to contrast himself with Antony, who served only with the augurs. Octavian had gained much ground against Antony since his arrival in Rome in May or June of 44 B.C. Indeed, only about a year before this aureus was struck he had raised an army of Julius Caesar's veterans who marched on Rome, thus forcing Antony to flee in hopes of taking up his proconsular command in Gaul. Octavian followed up by accompanying the consuls Pansa and Hirtius to Mutina, where Antony had besieged Decimus Brutus, who was defending his claim to the governorship of Gaul. Octavian helped the consuls – both of whom died in the effort – to defeat Antony, and as a result was hailed Imperator. Fearing Octavian, the senate turned its affection to Sextus Pompey, to whom it offered command of the Roman fleets, and to Brutus and Cassius, who were then in the East preparing to wage war against Antony and Octavian. Octavian responded in May of 43 by occupying Rome for a second time; by August he had forced the senate to formally recognise his adoption by Caesar and to name him one of the consuls in place of Pansa and Hirtius. Octavian then set his sights on Antony again, but in November of 43 the men avoided civil war by joining with Caesar's former magister equitum Lepidus to form the Second Triumvirate. The five-year pact was grudgingly ratified by the senate, which was now powerless to oppose. The formation of the Triumvirate, however, did not bring stability to the Roman world. Indeed, at the time Octavian issued this aureus, agents of the triumvirs were aggressively enforcing the proscriptions, by which they eliminated many of their high-profile enemies and confiscated their assets. The most noteworthy victim was the orator and political activist Cicero, who died on December 7 of 43 B.C.