How to Identify the Mark Antony Legionary Denarius
A guide to Mark Antony's widely circulated legionary denarius, recognizable by its galley obverse and eagle-and-standards reverse naming a specific legion, plus why worn examples are so common.
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What This Coin Is
This silver denarius was struck by Mark Antony in 32-31 BC, in the lead-up to his war with Octavian, to pay the many legions under his command. It was issued in enormous quantities and remained in active circulation for well over two centuries afterward.
Obverse Design
The obverse shows a war galley sailing right, typically with rowers' oars visible. The legend reads ANT AVG, for Antonius Augur, along with III VIR R P C, abbreviating his office as triumvir for organizing the republic.
Reverse Design
The reverse shows a legionary eagle, the aquila, standing between two military standards. The legend names the specific legion the coin was issued to pay, such as LEG II, LEG VI, or LEG X, or a nonstandard unit like COHORTIS SPECVLATORVM, the scouts' cohort. The exact numeral is the key identifying detail for each variety.
Size, Weight, and Metal
These denarii measure roughly 17-18mm across and were struck in silver of noticeably lower fineness than earlier Republican denarii, a debasement tied to the pressures of funding a huge military buildup, at a weight around 3.4-3.9 grams depending on the specific issue.
Mint Marks and Where to Look
There is no separate city mint mark. The legion numeral itself, found in the reverse legend beneath the eagle, is the functional identifying code and what collectors use to sort the roughly thirty known legion varieties.
Telling It Apart From Similar Coins
The galley obverse and eagle-between-standards reverse combination is unique to this issue and not easily confused with other Republican types. Because so many examples survive today, the main task is reading the worn legion numeral correctly rather than distinguishing the coin type itself from another.
Grading at a Glance
These coins circulated far longer than most Roman silver, often into the 3rd century AD, so genuinely ancient specimens are frequently found quite worn, with the galley's oars and the legion numeral partly obscured. A smooth, low-relief, heavily worn example is normal and does not necessarily indicate a fake, but does typically mean a lower collector grade.
Authenticity Red Flags
Because of their fame, low silver fineness, and centuries of circulation, both ancient plated forgeries and modern struck or cast fakes are extremely common for this type. Check for a plating seam or bubbling at wear points, verify the legion number reads clearly and matches a documented genuine variety, and be skeptical of examples advertised as sharp and fully legible if the type is normally known for surviving worn.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I see so many of these coins compared to other Roman Republican types?
Mark Antony struck an unusually large volume to pay dozens of legions before his war with Octavian, and because the debased silver made them less desirable to melt down or hoard, they stayed in active circulation for generations, so far more survive today than most Republican denarii.
Why is my coin's reverse so worn even though it's described as a well-preserved ancient piece?
These denarii often remained in circulation for two centuries or more after being struck, sometimes turning up in hoards from the 3rd century AD, so heavy circulation wear is typical and expected rather than a sign of a problem coin.
How do I know which legion my coin was struck for?
Look at the numeral or abbreviation in the reverse legend beneath the eagle and standards; this identifies the specific legion, such as LEG X, that the issue was struck to pay.
Are fakes of this type common?
Yes, both ancient silver-plated counterfeits and modern reproductions are frequently encountered, so checking for a plating seam and verifying the legion numeral against documented genuine varieties is important.