Cohors Praetoria

237, Lot: 384. Estimate $200. Sold for $480. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Mark Antony. Autumn 32-spring 31 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.45 g, 7h). Legionary type. Patrae(?) mint. Praetorian galley right / CHORTIVM PRAETORIARVM, aquila right between two signa. Crawford 544/8; CRI 385; Sydenham 1213; RSC 7. Near VF, lighty toned, bankers’ marks, graffiti. Rare.

From the Collection of Professor L. Fontana.

The praetorian cohorts take their name from the praetorium, or tent, of the commander. These elite troops went on campaign as the personal accompaniment of their generals (Mark Antony likely had four or more praetorian cohorts with him at Actium). Augustus drew from these cohorts to form the Praetorian Gaurd, a unit that would come to posses tremendous political power.