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Roman Republic, Denarius

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Roman Republic, Denarius (obverse) Roman Republic, Denarius (reverse)

This Roman denarius was struck around 32 BC by Marcus Antonius in Egypt. The obverse depicts a ship with a scepter tied to its prow. The legend ANT. AVG. above refers to Mark Antony's title of Augur, while the inscription below is an abbreviation of his position as member of the triumvirate (III. VIR. R. P. C. for 'triumvir rei publicae constituendae,' 'triumvir for the reconstitution of the republic').

The triumvirate of Mark Antony, Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (the later Emperor Augustus) and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus was formed after the death of Julius Caesar in 44 BC, but did not last very long.

The reverse depicts the standard of the Roman Legion between two other standards. The legend LEG IX refers to the 9th legion.

Mark Antony issued such coins in large numbers to pay his legions. The image on the obverse honors the fleet, the one on the revers the land troops.

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