The Rare Legio XXIII

CNG 87, Lot: 958. Estimate $500. Sold for $4000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

The Triumvirs. Mark Antony. Autumn 32-spring 31 BC. AR Denarius (16mm, 3.57 g, 6h). Legionary issue. Patrae(?) mint. Galley right / Aquila between two signa; LEG XXIII across field. Crawford 544/39; CRI 383; Sydenham 1246; RSC 60. Good VF, toned. Rare legion.

The highest number given to a legion within Mark Antony’s military, the group was most likely disbanded after their defeat at Actium. The twenty-third was never to be used again as a legionary numeration, as Augustus reorganized the Roman army and decreased the total number of legions. The only time a number greater than XXII was used for a legion was when Trajan raised the legio XXX Ulpia Victrix, most likely representing that it was the thirtieth in use by the military at that time.