Marcus Antonius, silver denarius (Series III) Legionary Coins, 3.58 g.
Title
Marcus Antonius, silver denarius (Series III) Legionary Coins, 3.58 g.
Creator
Marcus Antonius
Date
c. 31 BCE
Description
Obverse: Galley with rowers facing right, with standard at prow; above, ANT AVG; below, III VIR R [P C]. Border of dots.
Reverse: Legionary aquila between two standards; below in field, LEG II. Border of dots.
Style/Period: Roman Republic
This coin, issued by Marc Antony after abandoning Rome to rule in Egypt with Cleopatra, was struck to pay for the legions that accompanied him. He issued similar coins for each legion. This particular coin was minted for the second legion (LEG II on the reverse). The coin is made of a much baser metal than other coins of the time, perhaps owing to the limited resources of Marc Antony and his army. The AVG on the reverse refers to Antonius as augur.
-- Bradford W. Wendel, LU '96
Bibliography: E. Babelon, Description historique et chronologique des monnaies de la republique romaine (Paris and London 1885-1886) Antonia, 105; H. A. Grueber, Coins of the Roman Republic in the British Museum (London 1910), II, 527-530, no. 192; E. A. Sydenham, The Coinage of the Roman Republic (London 1952) 195, no. 1216; M. H. Crawford, Roman Republican Coinage (London 1974) 539-541, no. 544/14; C. H. V. Sutherland, Roman Coins (New York 1974) 111, nos. 190-191, 193; J. P. C. Kent, Roman Coins (New York 1978) pl. 32, no. 112; R. A. G. Carson, Principal Coins of the Romans, I (London 1978) 81, no. 317; C. Foss, Roman Historical Coins (London 1990) 39, no. 90d.
-- Bradford W. Wendel, LU '96
Bibliography: E. Babelon, Description historique et chronologique des monnaies de la republique romaine (Paris and London 1885-1886) Antonia, 105; H. A. Grueber, Coins of the Roman Republic in the British Museum (London 1910), II, 527-530, no. 192; E. A. Sydenham, The Coinage of the Roman Republic (London 1952) 195, no. 1216; M. H. Crawford, Roman Republican Coinage (London 1974) 539-541, no. 544/14; C. H. V. Sutherland, Roman Coins (New York 1974) 111, nos. 190-191, 193; J. P. C. Kent, Roman Coins (New York 1978) pl. 32, no. 112; R. A. G. Carson, Principal Coins of the Romans, I (London 1978) 81, no. 317; C. Foss, Roman Historical Coins (London 1990) 39, no. 90d.
Source
Classics Department Collection
Identifier
C050
Rights
Wriston Art Center Galleries, Lawrence University, Appleton, WI,wriston-gallery@lawrence.edu,920-832-6890
Files
Citation
Marcus Antonius, “Marcus Antonius, silver denarius (Series III) Legionary Coins, 3.58 g.,” Lawrence University Classics Department & Ottilia Buerger Coin Collections, accessed November 5, 2026, https://thor.lawrence.edu/omeka/buerger/items/show/412.