Mark Antony. Denarius, moving military mint in Italy, 42 BC.

Mark Antony. Denarius, moving military mint in Italy, 42 BC. AR, 3.70 g, 17.7 mm, 9 h.

Obv. Bare head of Mark Antony right; behind, lituus.

Rev. Radiate head of Sol right; around, M·ANTONIVS·III·VIR·R·P·C.

Refs: Crawford 496/2; Babelon Antonia 29; Sydenham 1170.

Struck in the aftermath of Caesar’s assassination and during the turbulent months preceding Philippi, this issue presents Antony in the guise of augur, the lituus behind his portrait alluding to his lifelong priesthood of the augurate. The radiate head of Sol on the reverse conveys divine favour and suggests an aura of invincibility, an image Antony was keen to cultivate as he marched with his armies through Italy towards the final confrontation with Brutus and Cassius.

The legend identifies Antony as one of the tresviri rei publicae constituendae, the triumvirs for the restoration of the state, a title that cloaked extraordinary powers under the pretence of constitutional legitimacy. In the charged atmosphere of 42 BC, coinage such as this was a vital instrument of propaganda, disseminating Antony’s claims to both religious authority and political supremacy across his mobile military mints.