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                              Description
                                56, Lot: 111. MARK ANTONY. 32-31 BC. AR 
                                Legionary Denarius (3.62 gm). Estimate $75. Sold 
                                For $58 

                                MARK ANTONY. 32-31 BC. AR Legionary Denarius 
                                (3.62 gm). Galley right / LEG VII, legionary 
                                eagle between two standards. Crawford 544/20; 
                                Sydenham 1224; RSC 34. Toned Fine, very minor, 
                                and shallow, obverse test mark. ($75)
                                Mark Antony minted these coins from silver he 
                                received in Cleopatra's dowry, but there wasn't 
                                enough to pay his troops! So these coins were 
                                minted at a slightly lower standard than other 
                                Roman issues of the time. This sent Greek 
                                bankers into a frenzy, and for a time they 
                                tested all Roman silver. Antony's denarii nearly 
                                always have a shallow "banker's mark", while 
                                Octavian's and other issues of Antony that were 
                                tested often show a deeper punch. The reason? 
                                Pure silver is softer. And why are these 
                                legionary denarii so hard to find in high grade? 
                                Bad money replaces good; these legionary denarii 
                                circulated into the reign of Gallienus! Thank 
                                you, Harvey Hofer, for this (true) story. 
                                (Remembered from circa 1961 AD).






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From CNG Online Auction 56, closed January 8, 2003.


Used by permission of CNG, www.cngcoins.com.