Lot 2542

Description

Mark Antony and Octavian, (Antony committed suicide 30 B.C.), silver denarius, mint moving with Antony probably at Ephesus, issued 41 B.C., issued by moneyer M. Barbatius Pollio, (3.78 g), obv. bare head of Antony to right, M ANT IMP AVG III VIR R P C M BARBAT Q P around, dotted border, rev. bare head of Octavian to right, around CAESAR IMP PONT III VIR R P C, dotted border, (S.1504, Cr.517/2, Syd. 1181, RSC 8). Attractive lightly toned, well centred, nearly extremely fine and very rare as such.

Ex Anthony (Tony) Taylor Collection.

Noble Numismatics Sale 113, lot 4775. Previously Dr. Adrian Carr Collection and from Monetarium, Sydney on 19th October 1994, noted as previously from Regal Coins in 1981 who sold it to Monetarium in 1994.

This coin commemorates the reconciliation between Mark Antony and Octavian in 41 BC. Struck in spring to summer 41 BC probably at Ephesus.

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 was made in the name of M. Barbatius Pollio, a friend of Julius Caesar and quaestor 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.