v61_0087 - CLEOPATRA VII and MARK ANTONY Denier

CLEOPATRA VII and MARK ANTONY Denier XF/AU

MONNAIES 61 (2014)
Starting price : 3 800.00 €
Estimate : 5 500.00 €
Realised price : 4 410.00 €
Number of bids : 3
Maximum bid : 5 100.00 €

Type : Denier

Date: automne

Date: c. 34 AC.

Mint name / Town : Alexandria

Metal : silver

Millesimal fineness : 950 ‰

Diameter : 18 mm

Orientation dies : 12 h.

Weight : 3,90 g.

Rarity : R3

Coments on the condition:

Exemplaire sur un petit flan ovale et irrégulier, court sur les légendes, bien centré des deux côtés avec un petit plat en bordure périphérique de flan. Beau portrait de Cléopâtre réaliste. Très beau portrait de Marc Antoine. Jolie patine de collection ancienne avec reflets dorés

Catalogue references :

B.95 (Antonia) - BMC/RR.179 (East) - CRR.1210 (7) - RRC.543 /1 - RSC.1 - RCV.1515 (8000$) - CRI.345 (2500£) - C.1 (40f.) - MRR.1701 (7000€)

Predigree :

Cet exemplaire provient de la vente Palombo 6 du 12 octobre 2008 et de la collection F. & M.-C. Mary

Obverse

Obverse legend : [CLEOPATRAE] REGINAE REGVM FILIORVM REGVM.

Obverse description : Buste drapé de Cléopâtre à droite, vu de trois quarts en avant ; au-dessous, base de proue de navire (L).

Obverse translation : “Cleopatræ Reginæ Regum Filiorum Regum” (À Cléopâtre reine au-dessus des rois et de ses fils qui sont rois).

Reverse

Reverse legend : ANTONI ARMENIA DEVICTA.

Reverse description : Tête nue de Marc Antoine à droite ; derrière une petite tiare (arménienne) (O°).

Reverse translation : “Antoni Armenia Devicta” (D’Antoine, l’Arménie soumise).

Commentary

Pour ce type, le droit est bien le buste de Cléopâtre.

Historical background

CLEOPATRA VII and MARK ANTONY

(39-30 BC)

Cleopatra (69-30 AC. ) is the daughter of Ptolemy XII and Cleopatra VI. She succeeded her father in 51 BC.. -VS. together with her brother and husband Ptolemy XIII (51-47 AC. ). Pompey, after the defeat of Pharsalus (48 AC. ), tries to find refuge in Egypt, but is murdered at the instigation of Ptolemy XIII. Caesar arrives in Alexandria, takes the side of Cleopatra against her brother (Alexandrian War), falls under the spell of the Queen of Egypt and has a son, Caesarion, future Ptolemy XV. Cleopatra follows the conqueror to Rome, but returns to Egypt after his death in 44 BC. -VS. She then subjugates Marc Antoine, Caesar's lieutenant and partner of Octave and Lépide in the second triumvirate. She has several children, including Ptolemy Philadelphus. The war becomes inevitable between Rome and Egypt from the proclamation of the "donation of Alexandria", where Marc Antoine projects to restore the lagide power in the East. Antony and Cleopatra are defeated at Actium in 31 BC. -VS. Antoine commits suicide the following year and Cleopatra, in order not to appear in Octave's triumph, prefers to kill herself with an asp.. Caesarion is put to death by Octavian. Seen from the East, the couple Marc Antoine and Cléopâtre is mythical, just like the one she forms with César.