Sale: Triton XIII, Lot: 289. Estimate $5000.  Closing Date: Monday, 4 January 2010.  Sold For $8000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Mark Antony. April-May 44 BC. AR Denarius (3.79 g, 3h). Rome mint. P. Sepullius Macer, moneyer. Veiled and bearded head of Antony right; capis behind, lituus before / Desultor (horseman) on horseback galloping right, a second horse by his side in background, wearing conical cap, holding whip aloft in right hand and reins in left; palm frond and wreath behind; P • SEPVLLIVS above, MACER below. Crawford 480/22; CRI 142; Sydenham 1077; Kestner -; BMCRR Rome 4178-81; RSC 74. EF, handsome mauve-gray cabinet toning. Rare.

From the Guy Weill Goudchaux Collection. Ex UBS 78 (9 September 2008), lot 1119.

This is the first portrait issue of Mark Antony. Struck within a month or two of the assassination of Julius Caesar, Antony is shown bearded, clearly symbolic of one in mourning. For the next two and a half years, until after the battle of Philippi, the portraits on coins of both Mark Antony and Octavian were bearded for the same reason.