The Triumvirs. Mark Antony and Octavia. Summer-autumn 39 BC. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 7.80 g, 9h). Athens mint. Near VF.

CNG Feature Auction 123
Lot: 531. Estimated: $ 40 000

Roman Republican, Coin-in-Hand Video, Gold

Sold For $ 35 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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The Triumvirs. Mark Antony and Octavia. Summer-autumn 39 BC. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 7.80 g, 9h). Athens mint. Bare head of Mark Antony right; M • ANTONIVS • M • F • M • N • AVGVR • IMP • T II RT around / Head of Octavia right, her hair tied in a knot behind with one long plait arranged as a loop on top of her head; COI • DII SIG • ITIIR • IIT • TIIRT • III • UIR • R • P • C around. Crawford 533/3b; CRI 269; Bahrfeldt 91; Calicó 116; Sydenham 1201; BMCRR East 145; RBW –. Residual luster, minor marks. Near VF. Extremely rare.

Shortly after the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, cracks began to appear in the Second Triumvirate. Antony’s affair with Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, and his designs on Rome’s eastern holdings, prompted Octavian to formulate a binding agreement that would buy him time to strengthen his own position. At Brundisium a pact was signed, bringing about a reconciliation and some semblance of peace. As a condition of this reconciliation, Antony was married to Octavian’s widowed sister, Octavia. She stayed with him in Athens while he continued to prepare for a war against Parthia, and where, in 39 BC, he was associated with the “New Dionysus.” In 37 BC, she helped negotiate the Pact of Tarentum, which renewed the triumvirate until 33 BC. Antony, by this time, however, had renewed his affair with Cleopatra. He remained in the East, where he married the queen, and subsequently fathered several children. In 32 BC, as a renewal of civil war became imminent, Antony divorced Octavia. In the aftermath of Antony’s death, Octavia, known for her loyalty and nobilty, brought Antony’s surviving children to Rome to live with her.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 123 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 23-24 May 2023. This lot is in Session Two, which will begin 23 May 2023 at 2 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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