Coins featuring Marc Antony are important artifacts from a turbulent period in Roman history, the transition from Republic to Empire . These coins are highly sought after by collectors and historians for their historical significance and insight into Antony’s ambitions and strategies.
- Legionary Denarii: These are arguably the most recognized and collectible of Antony’s coinage. They were minted to pay his legions and fleet and feature a Roman galley on the obverse (front) and the legionary eagle (aquila) between two military standards (signa or vexilla) on the reverse (back), often inscribed with the specific legion number, [according to Collectors Society] . The inclusion of these symbols, rather than a ruler’s likeness, was a propaganda tactic to show his admiration for his soldiers. These coins were minted from traveling military mints, likely in Greece, in the lead-up to the Battle of Actium against Octavian.
- Portraits: Antony also issued coins featuring his own portrait, sometimes alongside Cleopatra VII. One such coin depicts him wearing the ivy-leaf crown of Dionysos to reinforce his claim to divine right to rule. Another portrays him wearing a beard and veil, mourning Caesar’s death and presenting himself as a pious avenger.
- Fleet Coinage: Antony’s fleet coinage, including denominations like cersus, ais, dupondus, and ass, saw changes in weight standards and the introduction of base metal coinage. He used both Latin and Greek denominations, likely targeting an Eastern audience, [notes a YouTube video].
- Propaganda: Marc Antony’s coins served as propaganda tools, boosting the morale of his troops and highlighting his image as a strong leader and Avenger of Caesar’s death.
- Transitional Period: The legionary denarii, in particular, reflect the crucial transition from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire and the power struggles of the Second Triumvirate, [according to Premium Ancient Coins].
- Economic Impact: The debasement of silver in the legionary denarii, a tactic to finance his army and fleet, foreshadowed a trend of increasing debasement in Roman coinage over the following centuries. These coins circulated for hundreds of years after Antony’s death, demonstrating their impact.
Marc Antony coins are highly collectible, with their value varying based on factors like condition, rarity, and historical importance. Prices range from under $100 for more common examples to thousands of dollars for well-preserved and rarer pieces, [according to VCoins] . Authenticity is crucial when collecting ancient coins. Professional grading services like NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation) certify many of the surviving examples, providing assurance of their genuineness and condition.
What is the Roman coin Mark Antony?
Legionary denarii (Mark Antony) Legionary denarii is the modern name for a series of Roman silver denarius coins issued by Mark Antony in the eastern Mediterranean during the last war of the Roman Republic from 32 to 31 BC, in the lead up to the Battle of Actium.
What is the rarest Roman coin ever found?
EID MAR Denarius: among the rarest Roman coins in existence. When it comes to sky-high rare Roman coin values, few can compete with the EID MAR Denarius.
Are Mark Anthony and Marcus Antonius the same person?
Marcus Antonius (14 January 83 BC – 1 August 30 BC), commonly known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general who played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic from a constitutional republic into the autocratic Roman Empire.
What is the coin of Antony and Cleopatra?
Great question! Mark Anthony and Cleopatra Silver Denarius, struck during 34BC. This coin shows the portrait of Cleopatra, ruler of Egypt, and represents her joint coinage with Mark Anthony. 17mm, 2.86g, Extremely Rare.