| Leu Numismatik AG > Web Auction 28 | Auction date: 9 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 3265 Price realized: 4,400 CHF (Approx. 5,002 USD / 4,645 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Cleopatra VII of Egypt, 51-30 BC, with Mark Antony. Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.92 g, 12 h), Alexandria, autumn 34. CLEOPATRAE R[EGINAE•]REGVM•FILIORVM•REGVM Diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra to right; below, prow to right. Rev. ANTONI•ARMENIA•DEVICTA Bare head of Mark Antony to right; behind, Armenian tiara. Babelon (Antonia) 95. Crawford 543/1. CRI 345. RBW 1832. Sydenham 1210. Beautifully toned. Flan crack and some scratches, otherwise, very fine. From the T. Fribie Collection and the Korwin Collection, Classical Numismatic Group 103, 14 September 2016, 671. Cleopatra's and Mark Antony's Alexandrian portrait denarii were traditionally dated to 32 BC. However, their legends and iconography clearly connect them to Antony's campaign against Armenia in 34 BC and the subsequent infamous 'Donations of Alexandria'. Upon Antony's return from what was little more than a looting expedition to distract from his disastrous defeats against the Parthians, a great victory spectacle was organized in the Egyptian capital in which captives were paraded and donatives distributed. Most striking, however, was that the queen and the general distributed titles and kingdoms to themselves and their children, with Cleopatra being named Queen of Kings and Queen of Egypt and claiming Cyprus, Libya and central Syria for herself, Alexander Helios 'receiving' Armenia, Media and Parthia, his twin sister, Cleopatra Selene, Cyrenaica and Libya, and Ptolemy Philadelphus Syria, Phoenicia and Cilicia. These donations of what were, with the exception of Egypt proper, mostly either Roman provinces or unconquered lands (such as Media and Parthia) caused great outrage in Roman society. Worst of all was the proclamation of Julius Caesar's and Cleopatra's mutual son, Caesarion, as King of Kings, god, and divi filius ('son of god'), and his appointment as his father's sole legitimate heir. This was a direct challenge to Octavian's claim to power, which stemmed from his adoption by Julius Caesar and the loyalty of the dictator's legions, and would only accelerate the irreversible break between the two most powerful men of the Roman world. Starting price: 750 CHF |  |
Match 1:
| Leu Numismatik AG > Web Auction 28 | Auction date: 9 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 3264 Price realized: 5,500 CHF (Approx. 6,252 USD / 5,806 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Cleopatra VII of Egypt, 51-30 BC, with Mark Antony. Denarius (Silver, 17 mm, 3.64 g, 12 h), Alexandria, autumn 34. CLEOPATRAE REGINAE•REGVM•FILIORVM•REGVM Diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra to right; below, prow to right. Rev. ANTONI•ARME[NIA•DE]VICTA Bare head of Mark Antony to right; behind, Armenian tiara. Babelon (Antonia) 95. Crawford 543/1. CRI 345. RBW 1832. Sydenham 1210. A beautifully toned piece with two very attractive portraits and an old pedigree. Flan crack and with some scratches, otherwise, very fine. From the T. Frisbie Collection, ex Numismatica Ars Classica 97, 12 December 2016, 58, UBS 78, 9 September 2008, 1210, and Dupriez, 23 October 1934, 48. Cleopatra's and Mark Antony's Alexandrian portrait denarii were traditionally dated to 32 BC. However, their legends and iconography clearly connect them to Antony's campaign against Armenia in 34 BC and the subsequent infamous 'Donations of Alexandria'. Upon Antony's return from what was little more than a looting expedition to distract from his disastrous defeats against the Parthians, a great victory spectacle was organized in the Egyptian capital in which captives were paraded and donatives distributed. Most striking, however, was that the queen and the general distributed titles and kingdoms to themselves and their children, with Cleopatra being named Queen of Kings and Queen of Egypt and claiming Cyprus, Libya and central Syria for herself, Alexander Helios 'receiving' Armenia, Media and Parthia, his twin sister, Cleopatra Selene, Cyrenaica and Libya, and Ptolemy Philadelphus Syria, Phoenicia and Cilicia. These donations of what were, with the exception of Egypt proper, mostly either Roman provinces or unconquered lands (such as Media and Parthia) caused great outrage in Roman society. Worst of all was the proclamation of Julius Caesar's and Cleopatra's mutual son, Caesarion, as King of Kings, god, and divi filius ('son of god'), and his appointment as his father's sole legitimate heir. This was a direct challenge to Octavian's claim to power, which stemmed from his adoption by Julius Caesar and the loyalty of the dictator's legions, and would only accelerate the irreversible break between the two most powerful men of the Roman world. Starting price: 1000 CHF |  |
Match 2:
| Leu Numismatik AG > Web Auction 28 | Auction date: 9 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 3266 Price realized: 1,900 CHF (Approx. 2,160 USD / 2,006 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Denarius (Silver, 20 mm, 3.50 g, 1 h), Alexandria, 32 BC. [CLEOPATRAE REGINAE•]REGVM•FILIOR[VM•REGVM] Diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra to right. Rev. ANTONI•ARMENIA[•DEVICTA] Bare head of Mark Antony to right; behind, Armenian tiara. Babelon (Antonia) 95. Crawford 543/1. RBW 1832. Sydenham 1210. Porous and rough, otherwise, very fine. From a European collection, formed before 2005. Cleopatra's and Mark Antony's Alexandrian portrait denarii were traditionally dated to 32 BC. However, their legends and iconography clearly connect them to Antony's campaign against Armenia in 34 BC and the subsequent infamous 'Donations of Alexandria'. Upon Antony's return from what was little more than a looting expedition to distract from his disastrous defeats against the Parthians, a great victory spectacle was organized in the Egyptian capital in which captives were paraded and donatives distributed. Most striking, however, was that the queen and the general distributed titles and kingdoms to themselves and their children, with Cleopatra being named Queen of Kings and Queen of Egypt and claiming Cyprus, Libya and central Syria for herself, Alexander Helios 'receiving' Armenia, Media and Parthia, his twin sister, Cleopatra Selene, Cyrenaica and Libya, and Ptolemy Philadelphus Syria, Phoenicia and Cilicia. These donations of what were, with the exception of Egypt proper, mostly either Roman provinces or unconquered lands (such as Media and Parthia) caused great outrage in Roman society. Worst of all was the proclamation of Julius Caesar's and Cleopatra's mutual son, Caesarion, as King of Kings, god, and divi filius ('son of god'), and his appointment as his father's sole legitimate heir. This was a direct challenge to Octavian's claim to power, which stemmed from his adoption by Julius Caesar and the loyalty of the dictator's legions, and would only accelerate the irreversible break between the two most powerful men of the Roman world. Starting price: 250 CHF |  |
Match 3:
| Nomos AG > Auction 32 | Auction date: 8 June 2024 |
| Lot number: 506 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot  | |
| Lot description: Greek Mark Antony and Cleopatra, 34 BC. Denarius (Silver, 16 mm, 3.81 g, 12 h), Alexandria. CLEOP[ATRAE REGINAE REGVM] FILIORVM REGVM Draped and diademed bust of Cleopatra to right; at point of bust, prow to right. Rev. [ANTONI ARMENIA DEVIC[TA Bare head of Mark Antony to right; behind neck, Armenian tiara. Babelon (Antonia) 95. Crawford 543/1. Sydenham 1210. Nearly extremely fine. From a European collection, ex Obolos 23, 12 June 2022, 691. Starting price: 8000 CHF |  |
Match 4:
| Leu Numismatik AG > Web Auction 28 | Auction date: 9 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 3740 Price realized: 200 CHF (Approx. 227 USD / 211 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Lucius Verus, 161-169. Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.30 g, 12 h), Rome, autumn-December 163. L VERVS AVG ARMENIACVS Bare head of Lucius Verus to right. Rev. TR P III•IMP II COS II / ARMEN Armenia, wearing peaked cap, seated left in attitude of mourning, propping her head on her right hand and placing her left on bow; behind her, shield and vexillum. BMC 239. Cohen 6. RIC 501. Areas of weakness, otherwise, good very fine. Starting price: 50 CHF |  |
Match 5:
| Leu Numismatik AG > Web Auction 28 | Auction date: 9 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 211 Price realized: 1,300 CHF (Approx. 1,478 USD / 1,372 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: PTOLEMAIC KINGS OF EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter, 305-282 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 28 mm, 14.15 g, 12 h), Alexandria, circa 294-282. Diademed head of Ptolemy I to right, wearing aegis around neck; small Δ behind ear. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Eagle with closed wings standing left on thunderbolt; to left, P above monogram of A and P. CPE 158. SNG Copenhagen 68. Svoronos 248. Fresh and with a splendid portrait. A few scratches and the reverse stuck slightly off center, otherwise, extremely fine. From the James Knox Collection of Biblical related coins, ex Classical Numismatic Group Mail Bid Sale 87, 18 May 2011, 692. Starting price: 250 CHF |  |
