Marc Antony, as Imperator (44-43 BC), with Divus Julius Caesar. AR denarius (18mm, 3.99 gm, 10h). NGC VF 4/5 - 4/5. Military mint traveling with Antony in Cisalpine Gaul, April-November 43 BC. M•ANTON IMP (NT ligate), bearded head of Marc Antony right; lituus left in left field / CAESAR DIC, laureate head of Divus Julius Caesar right; oenochoe right in left field. Crawford 488/1. Sydenham 1165. Antonia 4 and Julia 54. From the Bacchus Collection This unusual issue was struck by Marc Antony during the confused interlude following his defeat by Senatorial forces at Mutina in Northern Italy in April, 43 BC. The short, sharp war was the result of the Senate having fallen under the influence of Cicero and other anti-Caesarian forces, even though one of the consuls, Aulus Hirtius, had been a supporter of Caesar. Caesar's nephew and heir Octavian masterfully played all angles during this period and ended up benefitting when Hirtius and his consular colleague were both killed in the battle, leaving Octavian in efctive command of eight Senatorial legions. Defeated but not crushed, Antony and his legions retreated into Cisalpine Gaul and played a waiting game while Octavian returned to Rome and became ensnared in Senatorial politics. Antony greatly strengthened his position by forming an alliance with another Caesarian, Marcus Aemlius Lepidus, governor of Transalpine Gaul and Spain, giving them control of 17 legions. The dual portraits of Antony and Caesar on this denarius type were no doubt intended to remind soldiers and civilians alike of Antony's unswerving loyalty to Caesar and his memory. The interlude ended seven months later when Antony, Octavian and Lepidus made common cause against Caesar's assassins and formed the Second Triumvirate.

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