PHRYGIA, Eumeneia (as Fulvia). Fulvia, third wife of Mark Antony. Circa 41-40 BC. Æ (21mm, 7.87 g, 11h). Zmertorix, son of Philonides, magistrate. For coin: Near VF; c/ms: Good VF.

Electronic Auction 549
Lot: 363. Estimated: $ 100

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Sold For $ 140. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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PHRYGIA, Eumeneia (as Fulvia). Fulvia, third wife of Mark Antony. Circa 41-40 BC. Æ (21mm, 7.87 g, 11h). Zmertorix, son of Philonides, magistrate. Draped bust of Fulvia (as Victory) right; c/ms: {ZMEPTO} and {ΦIΛΩ} in circular incuse / Athena advancing left, holding shield and spear. RPC I 3139; BMC 20-1; SNG Copenhagen –. For c/ms: Howgego –. Black patina with light earthen highlights, light roughness. For coin: Near VF; c/ms: Good VF. Very clear countermarks.

Fulvia was first married to P. Clodius, the Roman firebrand. After his violent death in 52 BC, she married C. Scribonius Curio, who likewise met an untimely end in Africa. She married Mark Antony in 44 BC, and became an outspoken defender of his interests in Rome while he campaigned in the east (and enjoyed the attentions of Cleopatra). The city of Eumenia was re-named Fulviana in her honor by Antony's partisans. By 40 BC, Fulvia's strident attacks on Octavian had provoked a reaction, and she had to flee first to southern Italy and then to Greece. She met Antony at Athens, where he upbraided her for antagonizing Octavian when he was trying to maintain a semblance of cordial relations. Fulvia died at Sicyon shortly thereafter. Some examples of these coins show that the ethnic was removed from the die and two countermarks were applied, one that was the monogram of old Eumeneia, and the other probably of the magistrate Zmertorix, possibly proclaiming that he did not think such a renaming of the city was a good idea in the first place.

Closing Date and Time: 1 November 2023 at 12:00:40 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.