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Roman Rep. M. Antonius with M.M. Longus. Aureus 42, AV 8.06g.

Currency:CHF Category:Coins & Paper Money / Coins: Ancient Start Price:22,400.00 CHF Estimated At:28,000.00 CHF
Roman Rep. M. Antonius with M.M. Longus. Aureus 42, AV 8.06g.
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The Roman Republic. M. Antonius with M. Mussidius Longus. Aureus 42, AV 8.06g. M·ANTONIVS·III·VIR·R·P·C Bare head of M. Antonius r. Rev. L·MVSSIDIVS–LONGVS Cornucopiae with fillet. Babelon Antonia 23 and Mussidia 11. C 20. Bahrfeldt 42 and pl. VI, 4 (these dies). Sydenham 1110. Sear Imperators 146. Crawford 494/14. Buttrey, pl. 2, 42.11 (this coin) and pl. III, 42,11. Calicò 85 (this obverse die). Exceedingly rare, only very few specimens known of which only three are in private hands. Minor edge nicks, otherwise good very fine / very fine. Ex Sotheby’s sale 16 November 1972, Metropolitan part I, 7. Along with the portrait aurei of Octavian and Lepidus, this aureus is among the most historical of all Roman coinages. As the triumvirs struggled through the earliest phase of their pact and prepared to confront Brutus and Cassius, there can be little doubt that these were the coins used to pay the considerable expenses of war, including supplies, salaries and bribes. The horn of plenty on the reverse of this aureus undoubtedly reflects the senate's hope that Caesarean and Republican warfare would end as quickly and painlessly possible. Of the eight reverse types used for the portrait aurei of the four moneyers of 42 B.C. Mussidius' cornucopia is one of two that were common to all three triumvirs (the other shared design-Mars holding a spear and sword and resting a foot upon a shield-is also by Mussidius). Not surprisingly, there is significant die linkage among the six issues the shared these two reverse types.