AR Denarius

Struck: 32 – 31 B.C.
Mint: Patrae
Size: 18.1mm
Weight: 3.40g
Die Axis: 225°
Grade: F
Ref: Crawford 544/14

Obv: ANT•AVG / III VIR•R•P•C. Galley right with rowers, mast with banners at prow, border of dots.
Rev: LEG II. Aquila (legionary eagle) between two legionary standards, border of dots.
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Marcus Antonius was a Roman politician and general who played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the autocratic Roman Empire. Antony was a military commander for Julius Caesar during his conquest of Gaul and subsequent civil war. Caesar appointed Antony the administrator of Italy while he eliminated his political opponents in Greece, North Africa, and Spain. After Caesar's assassination in 44 BC, Antony joined forces with Marcus Lepidus and Caesar's adopted son Octavian in a three-man dictatorship known as the Second Triumvirate. The Triumvirate defeated Caesar's murderers, the Liberatores, at the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC and divided government of the Republic between themselves. Antony was assigned Rome's eastern provinces, including Rome's client kingdom of Ptolemaic Egypt ruled by Queen Cleopatra, and command of Rome's war against Parthia.

Relations within the Triumvirate were strained as the various members sought greater political power. Civil war between Antony and Octavian was averted in 40 BC when Antony married Octavian's sister Octavia. Despite his marriage, Antony continued his love affair with Cleopatra, further straining political ties to Rome. Lepidus was expelled in 36 BC, the Triumvirate broke up in 33 BC and disagreements between Octavian and Antony erupted into civil war in 31 BC. The Roman Senate, at Octavian's direction, declared war on Cleopatra and proclaimed Antony a traitor.

Antony was defeated by Octavian at the naval Battle of Actium in September 31 BC. Defeated, Antony fled with Cleopatra back to Egypt. Octavian, now close to absolute power, did not intend to give them rest. In August 30 BC, assisted by Agrippa, he invaded Egypt. With no other refuge to escape to, Antony committed suicide by stabbing himself with his sword in the mistaken belief that Cleopatra had already done so. When he found out that Cleopatra was still alive, his friends brought him to Cleopatra's monument in which she was hiding, and he died in her arms.