Marcus Antonius ("Marc Antony")
Born c. 83 B.C., Died 30 B.C.
Silver Denarius, 18 mm
O: Head of Marc Antony, the artists signature "P" concealed in hair
behind the ear.
R: Inscription
Athens mint, summer of 32 BC
Silver Denarius, 19 mm.
O: War-ship facing right, with rowers. Military standard at
prow. The inscription, in Latin, names Antony as Triumvir.
R: Eagle between two military standards. Legend LEG XVIII LYBICAE
names the 18th legion.
Eastern mint, c. 31 B.C.
These coins were struck in large numbers, naming individual legions, in order
to pay the troops in preparation for the upcoming battle with Octavian.
A cousin of Julius Caesar, Antony was chosen Caesar's co-consul for 44 BC. He tried in vain to have Caesar made emperor. After Caesar's assassination, Antony, Octavian and Lepidus formed the Second Triumvirate (43 BC). Antony then defeated Brutus, assassin of Caesar, at Philippi (42 BC) and set out to reorganize the eastern provinces. While in the Eastern provinces, Antony met and was captivated by Cleopatra VII, Queen of Egypt, with whom he lived in idleness and luxury. Antony's relationship with Octavian soon become strained, as each sought supremacy at Rome. Reconciliation was arranged in 40 A.D., with Antony's marriage to Octavian's sister, Octavia. Antony, however, soon abandoned Octavia to return to Cleopatra. In 32 BC, Antony divorced Octavia, and Octavian obtained the annulment of Antony's powers as triumvir along with a declaration of war. In 31 BC at Actium, Octavian decisively defeated Antony and Cleopatra who fled to Alexandria. Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide in 30 BC.