Sale: CNG 67, Lot: 1220. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 22 September 2004.  Sold For $600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MARK ANTONY. 32-31 BC. AR Legionary Denarius (3.30 gm). Patrae(?) mint. Galley right / LEG II, legionary aquila between two standards. Crawford 544/14; CRI 349; Sydenham 1216; RSC 27. Good VF, light golden toning on reverse, old scratch on obverse, good metal. ($500)

SECTION INTRO

THE MARC MELCHER COLLECTION OF LEGIONARY DENARII OF MARK ANTONY

Shortly before his showdown with Octavian at Actium, Antony issued a series of denarii (and aurei) to meet his legionary payroll and commemorate the various units fighting on his behalf. Struck in lower quality silver and in very large quantity, examples of this series continued to circulate well into the early second century AD. Twenty-three legions, including three which had additional issues giving their cognomina, were honored. Many of these units had been raised by Antony in the East when Octavian, contrary to the terms established under the various triumviral contracts, prevented him from recruiting in Italy. Consequently following Actium, many of these legions were disbanded or absorbed into Octavian's forces. In addition to these types, Antony also struck denarii for his praetorian cohorts, as well as the cohortes speculatorum, both of whom had been seconded from time to time out of the legions into permanently separate units. The former acted as the commander's bodyguard and, later, in the early Principate, exercised significant political power. The latter took on a specifically "intelligence” role and sometimes infiltrated the enemy, both external as well as internal.