COIN (ROMAN)

A complete but worn silver denarius of Mark Anthony, struck at a travelling mint, dating to the period c.32-31BC (Reece period 1). Obverse description: [ANT AVG] above and [II]I VI[R R P C] below; galley right. Reverse: Illegible. As RRC no. 544.



These coins were struck by Mark Antony for the use of his fleet and legions when he was preparing for the struggle with Octavius, which culminated in the Battle of Actium on the 2nd of September, 31 BC (Grueber, 1970, 526). Some legionary denarii remained in circulation until the 3rd century AD.



Denarii of Mark Antony were slightly debased. Therefore, they survived the various debasements from the reign of Nero onwards. It is not unusual to find worn Mark Antony denarii in 3rd century hoards - for example, there were 260 such coins in the Shapwick hoard of 9,238 silver denarii found in Somerset in 1998. There is one example in the Knutsford Hoard, 2012 T406.

Ruler: Republic
Moneyer: Antonius, M.
Denomination: Denarius (Roman Republic)
Material: Silver
Mint: Moving with Republican issuer
Obverse: Galley right.
Obverse legend: [ANT AVG] above and [II]I VI[R R P C]
Reverse: Illegible
Reverse legend: Illegible
Dated: -32.0 to -31.0
Weight (g): 3.1
Diameter (mm): 17.27
Thickness (mm): 1.58
Completeness: Complete
Preservation: Poor
Parish: Restricted Access
District: Lewes
County: East Sussex
Region: South East
Place known as: Tarring Neville
Discovery method: Metal detector