Rare Speculatores Denarius

237, Lot: 385. Estimate $200. Sold for $700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Mark Antony. Autumn 32-spring 31 BC. AR Denarius (15mm, 3.55 g, 7h). Legionary type. Patrae(?) mint. Praetorian galley right / CHORTIS SPECVLATORVM, three signa, each decorated with two wreaths and small galley. Crawford 544/12; CRI 386; Sydenham 1214; RSC 6. VF, toned, a couple of bankers’ marks. Rare.

From the Collection of Professor L. Fontana.

Serving as scouts and messengers, the chortes speculatorum filled the role of a spy within each legion. Normally ten in number per legion, Mark Antony created a special group of chortes who specifically served around him, carrying out personal instructions and protecting his well-being, essentially acting as an early secret service–a concept which was further developed during the empire under Augustus.