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Crawford 533/2, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Marc Antony, AR Denarius
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Rome, The Imperators.
Marcus Antonius. 43 BCE.
AR Denarius (4.07g; 18mm).
Military mint in Athens, Summer 38 BCE.
Obverse: M ANTONIVS M F M N AVGVR IMP TER; Antony in the priestly robes of an augur, standing right and holding lituus.
Reverse: III VIR R P C COS DESIG ITER ET TERT; Radiate head of Sol facing right.
References: Crawford 533/2; HCRI 267; Sydenham 1199; BMCRR (East) 141; Antonia 80.
Provenance: Ex Kentfield Collection [Heritage Auction 3067 (9 Jun 2018) Lot 33340]; Valerio Traverso Collection [Michele Baranowsky Auction (25 Feb 1931), Lot 1274].
In 50 BCE, Antony was appointed to the College of Augurs, an important group whose job was divining the will of the gods by interpreting auspices (birds and such) and providing advice based on these divinations. Antony was particularly proud of this appointment and referred to it frequently on his coinage, perhaps as a means of highlighting his traditional republican sensibilities. On this coin, he is depicted in full augur regalia. Sol on the reverse is a reference to The East, which Antony controlled per the renewal of the Second Triumvirate several months earlier. The inscriptions reference his augurship, second imperatorial acclamation, and designated second and third consulships. The coin was likely struck in Athens where Antony and Octavia were living after their marriage.
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