Mark Antony Legionary denarius LEG VIIII

ANT AVG III VIR R P C

galley r. mast with banners at prow

LEG VIIII
legionary eagle between two standards


Patrae mint 32-31BC

3.3g

Sear Imperator's 360; Crawford 544/22; Cohen 36

Scarcer archaic LEG VIIII rather then IX

The Ninth was raised before Caesar arrived in Gaul in 58 BC. and had seen constant action since then. In 49 BC the Ninth Legion was waiting in Northern Italy while Caesar was fighting in Spain. Resting idle caused the legion to mutiny, complaining that they had not received their promised rewards. Upon Caesar's arrival he arrested the ringleaders and executed a good number of them restoring order.

In 48 BC the legion was moved across into Greece and given to the Command of Antony at the seige of Dyrrachium. During the Pompeian break outs 3 Cohorts of the Ninth managed to hold a fort for an entire day, in the process almost every man was wounded.

The Ninth was so depleted that at the battle of Pharsalus they were merged with the 8th Legion and stationed on the far left wing under the command of Antony.