Lucius Antony

Triton XXII, Lot: 960. Estimate $10000. Sold for $15000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

The Triumvirs. Mark Antony and Lucius Antony. Summer 41 BC. AR Denarius (19.5mm, 3.97 g, 10h). Ephesus mint. M. Nerva, quaestor pro praetore. Bare head of Mark Antony right; [M Λ]NT • I(MP) (AV)G III VIR • R • P C M • (NE)RVA • PROQ • P around / Bare head of Lucius Antony right; L • ANTONIVS COS around. Crawford 517/5a; CRI 246; Sydenham 1185; RSC 2; BMCRR East 107; RBW 1799. Superb EF, deep cabinet toning with some iridescence. Great portraits.

From the Alan J. Harlan Collection, purchased from Edward J. Waddell.

After finalizing the arrangements of the second triumvirate, Mark Antony proceeded to Asia, first establishing a residence at Ephesus. Once there, he issued a series of coins commemorating the second triumvirate and the consulship of his brother, Lucius Antony, in 41 BC. M. Cocceius Nerva, a lieutenant of Mark Antony, was responsible for issuing the latter series. In his capacity as consul, Lucius took an overt stance against the unpopular Octavian, which eventually led to military hostilities between the two. Octavian, with the help of Agrippa and Salvidienus, besieged Lucius in Perusia (the “Perusine War”). Lucius eventually surrendered, and he was subsequently sent as a promagistrate to Spain, where he apparently (and conveniently) died shortly thereafter.