AR Denarius ROMAN IMPERATORS - MARCUS ANTONIUS & LUCIUS ANTONIUS - MARCUS COCCEIUS NERVA, monetarius - Ephesos (in xf  € 8.500 + 25% commission)

weight 3,80gr. | silver Ø 20mm.

obv. Bare head of Marcus Antonius right, surrounded by the legend
M•ANT•IMP•AVG III VIR•R•P•C•M NERVA PROQ•P
rev. Bare head of Lucius Antonius right, surrounded by the legend
L•ANTONIVS COS

Towards the close of 42 BC Marcus Antonius proceeded to Asia where he was to begin his task of reorganizing affairs in the East. Initially he fixed his residence at Ephesos, the seat of the proconsular governor, and it was probably from the Ephesian mint that Marcus Antonius issued a handsome series of gold aurei and silver denarii celebrating both the Triumvirate and the consulship, in 41 BC, of Marcus′ younger brother Lucius.

Lucius Antonius was a son of Marcus Antonius Creticus, son of the rhetorician Marcus Antonius Orator executed by Gaius Marius′ supporters in 86 BC, and Julia, a cousin of Julius Caesar. Together with his older brothers Marcus Antonius and Gaius Antonius, he spent his early years roaming through Rome in bad company. Plutarchus refers to the untamed life of the youths and their friends, frequenting gambling houses and drinking too much. After the murder of Caesar, he supported his brother Marcus. He proposed an agrarian law in favor of the people and Caesar′s veterans and took part in the operations at Mutina (43 BC). In 41 BC, he was consul with Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus as his senior partner. In this year, he assisted Mark Antony′s wife, Fulvia, who was anxious to recall her husband from Cleopatra′s court, in the raising of an eight legion army to fight against Octavian′s unpopular policies. Later, observing the bitter feelings that had been evoked by the distribution of land among the veterans of Caesar, Antonius and Fulvia changed their attitude and stood forward as the defenders of those who had suffered from its operation. Antonius marched on Rome, drove out Lepidus, and promised the people that the triumvirate would be abolished. On the approach of Octavianus, he retired to Perusia in Etruria, where he was besieged by three armies (Perusine War), and compelled to surrender in the winter of 41 BC. The city was destroyed but his life was spared, and he was sent by Octavianus to Spain as governor. Nothing is known of the circumstances or date of his death. Cicero, in his Philippics, actuated in great measure by personal animosity, gives a highly unfavorable view of his character.

Marcus Cocceius Nerva was the moneyer (monetarius) of this coin. His family were of Umbrian origin and were supporters of Marcus Antonius, providing him with a number of generals and diplomats. He was Proquaestor pro praetore (officer who, after having served as praetor in Rome, was sent to govern a province with praetorial authority), which is shown on this coin, under Antonius in 41 BC, and it is assumed that he was with Lucius Antonius during the Perusine War. He was one of the key military officers in Antonius′s army who refused to fight Octavianus and brought about the reconciliation between the two men in 40 BC. Around 38 BC, Marcus Antonius appointed Nerva as the proconsular governor of Asia, during which time he was acclaimed as imperator for some military action at Lagina. For his services to Marcus Antonius, Nerva was elected consul in 36 BC together with Lucius Gellius Publicola. In 31 BC he was elected to the Quindecimviri sacris faciundis, and was raised to the Patriciate after 29 BC. He is the great-grandfather of the more famous Emperor Nerva who ruled the Roman Empire from 96 to 98 AD. His son, also named Marcus Cocceius Nerva, was part of the entourage of emperor Tiberius.

cf. Künker Auktion 341, Osnabrück 1-2 October 2025, Lot 5707
(in xf  € 8.500 + 25% commission)

Crawford 517/5a | Antonia 48 and Cocceia 2 | Sydenham 1185
CRI 246 | Cohen 2 | Newman 41.5 | Albert 1641 | Sear 1509 RR
Attractive toning. Very rare.
vf

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