The Triumvirs. Mark Antony. Autumn 32-spring 31 BC. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.82 g, 7h). Legionary type. Patrae(?) mint. NGC Ch XF, 5/5, 5/5.

CNG Feature Auction 133
Lot: 524. Estimated: $ 750

Roman Republican, Silver

Sold For $ 3 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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The Triumvirs. Mark Antony. Autumn 32-spring 31 BC. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.82 g, 7h). Legionary type. Patrae(?) mint. Praetorian galley right / Aquila between two signa; LEG VI across lower field. Crawford 544/19; CRI 356; Sydenham 1223; RSC 33; RBW 1841. In NGC encapsulation 6827189-001, graded Ch XF, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5.

From an American Academic Collection.

After Mark Antony left his wife Octavia in Greece to resume his liaison with Cleopatra VII of Egypt in 36 BC, full-scale war for control of the Roman world became inevitable between Antony and Octavian, his fellow triumvir and brother of Octavia. A propaganda campaign began as both sides started marshaling forces and producing the money needed to pay the vastly expanded armies. However, their resources were unequal, with Antony possessing the wealthy eastern provinces and Egypt, while Octavian controlled the relatively impoverished west. Consequently, silver and gold coins struck in Antony’s name greatly outnumbered those of Octavian even before the legionary series commenced. Antony’s coinage of 34 BC, struck after the infamous Donations of Alexandria, stressed his partnership with Cleopatra, but this provided fodder for Octavian’s propagandists, who claimed Antony had become the queen’s slave and had ceased being a Roman. In 32 BC, Octavian forced Antony’s supporters out of the Senate and obtained a declaration of war against Egypt. Antony anticipated this action and had already begun moving his legions to Greece, with the intention of staging up for an invasion of Italy. It was there, probably at Antony’s winter quarters in Patrae, that the legionary denarii entered production in the fall of 32 BC, naming the individual units making up his formidable force. Unusually for the era, the coins eschew any portraiture and instead celebrate both the land and naval components of Antony’s military force, with the obverse depicting a war galley under oar, and the reverse depicting a legionary eagle (aquila) flanked by two cohort standards (signa). Antony is identified as the issuer by name and his titles, ANT AVG III VIR R.P.C, abbreviating Antonii auguris, tresviri rei publicae constituendae (”Antony, Augur and Triumvir for the Organizing of the Republic”). The reverses name 22 legions (Legiones II - XXIII).

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 133 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 15-16 September 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 133 – Session Two – Lot 309-594 will be held Tuesday morning, 15 September 2026 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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