Mark Antony & Julius Caesar, two powerful men in one coin!

[JayAg47]

Obv: M. ANTON. IMP. R. P. C., (Marcus Antonius Imperator Rei Publicae Constituandae)
[Imperator for] the Restoration of the Government), bare head of Mark Antony right; lituus behind.

Rev: CAESAR DIC, (Caesar Dictator), bare head of Julius Caesar right; capis behind.

43 BC. (18 mm, 3.55 g, 10h). Military mint traveling with Antony in Cisalpine Gaul.

Crawford 488/2; CRI 123; Sydenham 1166; RSC 3.

Ex Savoca 98th Blue Auction, Lot 1092, (March 2021).

While a bust of Mark Antony is a bonus, I mostly bought this coin for the nicer portraiture of Caesar on the reverse with his name and title 'Dictator' being clear. 

This coin marks the first appearance of Mark Antony's name, minted approximately a year after Julius Caesar's assassination. Following his defeat at Mutina on April 21, 43 BC, Antony retreated to southern Gaul. After the settlement in November 43 BC among Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus, resulting in the formation of the Second Triumvirate, Antony introduced these coins displaying both his and Caesar's portraits. While Octavian, now referred to as Caesar, rose to prominence, this propaganda likely aimed at Antony's soldiers, who had a fondness for Caesar. Antony, in search of a connection, included symbols of various offices previously held by both Caesar and himself, such as the augurate, showing their shared roles and asserting Antony as Caesar's successor. Although, I believe this coin could have simply intended to portray Caesar as a close friend of Antony.

A nice upgrade to my other Caesar's portrait coin along with his comet, minted by Augustus celebrating the Secular games (Ludi Saeculares) in 17 BC.

 

Please share your coins of these Imperators.

Edited May 8 by JayAg47

[Qcumbor]

1 hour ago, JayAg47 said:

Please share your coins of these Imperators.

Welcome to the club @JayAg47. Here's my example of your coin, acquired long ago, while it was still affordable I guess

Julius Caesar and Marcus Antonius, Denarius - Denarius minted 43 BCE
M ANTO IMP RPC, Head of Marcus Antonius right, lituus behind him
CAESAR DIC, Head of Caesar right, jug behind him
3.76 gr
Ref : HCRI # 123, RCV #1465, Cohen #3

Q

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

The "Caesar" 3 episode docudrama aired on the BBC then PBS in the states recently is not going to make the prices come down, unfortunately.

[El Cazador]

On 5/8/2024 at 7:01 AM, Qcumbor said:

Welcome to the club @JayAg47. Here's my example of your coin, acquired long ago, while it was still affordable I guess

Julius Caesar and Marcus Antonius, Denarius - Denarius minted 43 BCE
M ANTO IMP RPC, Head of Marcus Antonius right, lituus behind him
CAESAR DIC, Head of Caesar right, jug behind him
3.76 gr
Ref : HCRI # 123, RCV #1465, Cohen #3

Q

One of my favorite of your coins alongside Otho! Great job!

[zadie]

I've yet to acquire a piece where these two men share a flan but it's in the works. Until then, here's a few from my trays that echo yours:

 

Second Triumvirate. Octavian and Mark Antony. Late 40-early 39 BC. AV Aureus. 
Mint in central or southern Italy. Bare head of Octavian right, wearing slight beard; CAESAR - IMP / 
Bare head of Mark Antony right; ANTONIVS - IMP around. Crawford 529/1; CRI 301; Sydenham 1327; 
Bahrfeldt 29; Calicó 105a; Biaggi 64; BMCRR Gaul 90; Kestner 3810; RBW 1815.

   

1. Octavian and Agrippa. AR Denarius. 
Military mint travelling with Octavian, 38 BC. 
Confronted heads of divus Julius Caesar and Octavian, DIVOS IVLIVS – [DIVI·F]/ 
M·AGRIPPA·COS - DESIG. 17 mm, 3.84 g. Crawford 534/2. 
Ex Fedor Ivanovich Prowe (1872-1932); Hess Adolph 137, May 1912, Lot 1530.

2. Second Triumvirate. Lepidus and Octavian. AR Denarius. 
Military mint travelling with Lepidus, November-December 43 BC. 
Bare head of Lepidus right, LEPIDVS · PONT · MAX · III · V · R · P · C / 
Bare head of Octavian right, CAESAR · IMP · III · VIR · R · P · C. 17 mm, 3.84 g. 
Crawford 495/2a; RBW 1752; RSC 2a.

[Carausius]

 

 

My example.  AR Denarius (4.19g; 19mm).
Provenance: Ex Bernard Poindessault Collection [Oger-Blanchet (17 Nov 2017) Lot 148]; Edouard Schott Collection [E. Bourgey (21 Mar 1972) Lot 337].

 

[Qcumbor]

@zadie's additions and @Carausius's denarius are very strong examples (funny enough, my Marcus and JC denarius was also purchased from Poindessault. That will be 20 years ago next week). 

They incite me to post other double portrait coins

Lepidus and Octavian :

 

MA and Octavian :

 

MA and his brother Lucius Antonius :

 

Q