Lot 2237

Description

Republic, Mark Antony and Octavian, (41 B.C.), silver denarius, mint moving with Mark Antony, obv. bare head of Mark Antony to right, around M ANT IMP AVG III VIR R P C M BARBAT Q P, rev. bare head of Octavian to right, around CAESAR IMP PONT III VIR R P C, (S.424, Cr.517/2, Syd.1181). Well centred with large flan, attractive grey tone, very fine and scarce.

Although produced three years after Julius Caesar's introduction of contemporary portraiture on Roman coinage, this issue displays a very developed style with encircling inscription, upon which all later imperial numismatic iconography was based. The coin was produced by Antony, honouring his colleague in the triumvirate, Octavian. The issue made in the name of M. Barbatius Pollio, a friend of Julius Caesar and quaester pro praetore to Antony in the East. The year 41 B.C. saw the first meeting of Antony with Cleopatra, at Tarsus, and he spent the following winter with her in Egypt.