Sale: Nomos 1, Lot: 137. Estimate CHF4500.  Closing Date: Tuesday, 5 May 2009.  Sold For CHF8750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Mark Antony. 43 BC. Denarius (Silver, 3.81 g 6), Transalpine or Cisalpine Gaul. M.ANTON.IMP Bare head of Marc Antony to right, with slight beard; behind, lituus to left Rev. CAESAR DIC Laureate head of Caesar to right; behind, jug. Babelon (Antonia) 4. Crawford 488/1. Sear 118. Sydenham 1165. An unusually nice example, struck from dies of exceptionally fine style. Attractively toned and very well struck, extremely fine.

This Gallic issue is notorious for being badly struck and for bearing portraits that range from crude to caricatural. This piece, however, has two heads of remarkable quality - it is, in fact, very probably the first die pair, made by a skilled engraver as the prototype for the series. His copiers simply lacked his abilities.