Last Ancient Roman Coins of the First Century included such coins as Denarius of Marcus Antonius and Silver Quinarius of Octavian.

Denarius of Marcus Antonius

(31 BC)

The obverse[¹⁰⁸⁴] of the coins shows Galley with standard norm. Above there's legend ANT AVG and below the inscription in the field stating IIIVIR R P C. The reverse[¹¹³⁹] of the ancient Roman coin features legionary eagle found between two standards. Inscription LEG XX can be found below in the field.

Detailed information on the coin

This coin was struck[¹¹⁸⁶] in31 BC and it refers to the historic Battle of Actium. At this period Octavian had been able to establish support among the republic's aristocracy in light of Marcus Antonius' likening of himself to Bacchus, the god of wine and male fertility, and the fact that Antony had left his wife Octavia in order to be near his wealthy Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt.

Octavian's sister, Octavia, became the wife of Antony as part of the agreement achieved between Antony and Octavian. The agreement was made in 40 BC at Brundisium. It was able to renew the conditions of the Second Triumvirate. The competition between Antony and Octavian, which once was only political, now became personal.

In addition Marcus Antonius wasn't successful in his war against the Parthians, an expedition that was held in 36 BC. The failure also had a negative influence on his credibility among the elite of the Roman Republic. Together with his experienced general, under the name Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, Octavian gained victory over Antony and Cleopatra.

This denarius was minted under Marc Antony and it focuses on his military power. He received a lot of ships from Cleopatra, who also provided supplies to be able to defeat Octavian. Coin's obverse shows the naval forces of Antony. It illustrates a galley, which has a military standard at the prow.

Above the upper mentioned image there's a legend stating "ANTonius AVGur." The first word is the name and the second is his priestly office. Below there's IIIVIR Rei Publicae Constituendae, which alleges to Antony as a triumvir of Rome. It is worth mentioning that Macr Antony became the member of the Second Triumvirate in 43 BC together with Octavian and Lapidus.

The reverse of Roman coinage's[⁹¹⁹] representative refers to the land forces of Antony. The scene found on the reverse shows a legionary eagle between two standards. LEGio XX is the legend found below that alleges to the Roman Legion under the rule of Antony. The eagle, which is considered to be the king of birds and the one to carry the thunderbolts of the Jupiter, was the main standard of Republic's legions.

Silver Quinarius of Octavian

(c. 28 BC)

The obverse of the coin depicts the head of Octavian. In the left field there's <CAE>SAR and in the right filed it reads IMP VII. Ancient coin's reverse shows Victory, who stands above cista mystica and holds a branch from the palm tree in her left hand. In Victory's right hand there's laurel wreath between two snakes. On both left and right it reads ASIA RECEPTA.

Detailed information on the coin

The ancient Roman coin Silver Quinarius was minted somewhere around 28 BC and it alleges to the recovery of Asia by Octavian from the forces of his rival Marcus Antonius. It is worth mentioning that in the time of the Second Triumvirate, Antony had acquired Asia to manage. When the Second Triumvirate was at the end of its existence, Octavian started thinking about recovering the lands of Asia from Antony and establishing them as part of the empire. Octavian would eventually control these lands.

When Antony had been defeated in 31 BC, together with Cleopatra he fled to Alexandria. We was followed by Octavian who made Antony lose nearly all of his military and political support. After that Antony committed suicide and Cleopatra soon made the same. Afterwards Octavian was able to take control over Egypt and turn it into a Roman province. He also gained control over the Greek provinces as well as Asian client states of Antonius.

The obverse of the ancient Roman coin includes the image of Octavian together with his cognomen CAESAR as well as the title IMPerator VII. Coin's obverse depicts Victoria holding a branch from the palm tree as well as a laurel wreath. Victoria stands above a cista mystica, the image shows her being between two snakes.