Mark Antony & Julius Caesar. Silver denarius

Mark Antony & Julius Caesar. Silver denarius, travelling mint in Cisalpine Gaul, spring 43 BC Obv. M ANTON IMP – bare, bearded head of Mark Antony right; augural lituus behind. Rev. CAESAR DIC – laureate head of Julius Caesar right; ritual jug (culullus) behind. Border of dots on both faces. Crawford 488/1–2; Sydenham 1165-66; RSC (Antonia) 2–3; Sear Imp. 1464-1465. Lightly toned, legends mostly readable though the Caesar portrait is weakly struck; a scarce issue that pairs the triumvir with his assassinated patron.

Struck in the weeks after the Senate outlawed Antony and while he was rallying forces in northern Italy, the coin proclaims his dual legitimacy. The lituus signals Antony’s status as augur, while the jug behind Caesar’s head advertises the late dictator’s lifelong role as pontifex maximus. By showing both portraits Antony reminded his troops and potential allies that he was Caesar’s chief religious colleague and political heir in everything but name, an argument soon carried onto the battlefield at Forum Gallorum and Mutina and, a year later, formalised in the Second Triumvirate.