| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Showcase Auction 61361 | Auction date: 12 February 2024 |
| Lot number: 23075 Price realized: 750 USD (Approx. 695 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Marc Antony, as Rulers of the East (37-30 BC). AR/AE fourrée plated denarius (19mm, 2.92 gm, 5h). NGC VF 2/5 - 1/5, core visible, scratches. Ancient forgery of denarius from military mint moving with Marc Antony, 32 BC. CLEOPATI-SESINAE REGVM FILIORVM REGVM, diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra right, stem of galley prow below / ANTONI ARMENIA DEPICTA, bare head of Marc Antony right, Armenian tiara behind. Cf. Crawford 543/1. Cf. Sydenham 1210 for prototypes (legends). The last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt, Cleopatra VII was born in 69 BC and succeeded her father Ptolemy XII Auletes in 51 BC. She soon faced a succession crisis: Her weak-willed younger brother and co-ruler, Ptolemy XIII, was dominated by a circle of courtiers who feared Cleopatra's keen intellect and resolute will. Consequently, they ousted and exiled her in 48 BC, shortly before the Roman general Pompey the Great arrived in Alexandria fresh from his defeat by Julius Caesar at the battle of Pharsalus. Ptolemy ordered Pompey's murder, but this only outraged Caesar, who showed up days later and occupied the royal palace. Cleopatra had herself wrapped in a carpet and smuggled into Caesar's presence for a meeting. This display of spunk by the nubile 20-year-old enchanted the dictator. The two likely became lovers that night, and Caesar's bitter Alexandrine War, which ended in the defeat and death of Ptolemy XIII, was fought on her behalf. Caesar tarried a while longer in Egypt while Cleopatra conceived and bore him a son, Ptolemy XV also known as Caesarion ("Little Caesar"). Caesar returned to Rome in 47 BC and summoned Cleopatra to join him the following year. She was thus in Rome when Caesar was murdered on March 15, 44 BC. Returning to Alexandria, she was summoned to meet the Triumvir Marc Antony at Tarsus in 41 BC. Once again, a powerful Roman succumbed to Cleopatra's charms, and within a year she had borne Antony twins, a boy and a girl, and another boy a few years later. Antony's adoption of "barbaric" Egyptian customs, his increasing dependence on Cleopatra, and his promise to bestow most of Rome's eastern possessions upon her and her children, led his partner in power, Octavian, to declare war on them, in 32 BC. Antony fought a lethargic campaign and suffered a heavy naval defeat at Actium in September, 31 BC, after which he and Cleopatra fled to Egypt. On Octavian's approach in 30 BC, Antony committed suicide and Cleopatra followed suit days later, utilizing the poisonous bite of the sacred asp. This series of coins celebrate Marc Antony's victory over Armenia, which was used as propaganda to bolster his image back in Rome after failing to defeat Parthia. During the Parthian campaign, Antony had enlisted the help of Armenia; however, when it became evident that their side would lose the war, King Artavasdes II fled back to Armenia. Antony viewed this abandonment as a betrayal. While, plotting his revenge on Artavasdes II, he played nice until he made it safely out of the Armenian region. In order to enact this revenge, Antony fled to his lover, Cleopatra, and in 37 BC, used the wealth of Egypt to depose King Artavasdes II. This monetary backing became known as the "Donations of Alexandria" and the resulting political fallout of this "donation" was swift. Octavian used Antony's entanglement with Egypt, and Cleopatra, as a reason for him to end his own politically tenuous coalition with Antony, turning the people against the couple and thereby sealing their fate. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-republic/ancients-cleopatra-vii-of-egypt-and-marc-antony-as-rulers-of-the-east-37-30-bc-ar-ae-fourree-plated-denarius-19m/a/61361-23075.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61361-02122024 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
Match 1:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > CSNS Signature Sale 3115 | Auction date: 8 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 32225 Price realized: 3,100 USD (Approx. 2,884 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Marc Antony, as Rulers of the East (37-30 BC). AR denarius (18mm, 3.57 gm, 12h). NGC XF 3/5 - 1/5. Alexandria, 34-32 BC. CLEOPATRAE-REGINAE•REGVM•FILIORVM•REGVM, diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra right, stem of galley prow below / ANTONI•ARMENIA•DEVICTA, bare head of Marc Antony right, Armenian tiara behind. Crawford 543/1. Sydenham 1210. CRI 345. RSC 1. Two clearly defined portraits of the famous couple. The last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt, Cleopatra VII was born in 69 BC and succeeded her father Ptolemy XII Auletes in 51 BC. She soon faced a succession crisis: Her weak-willed younger brother and co-ruler, Ptolemy XIII, was dominated by a circle of courtiers who feared Cleopatra's keen intellect and resolute will. Consequently, they ousted and exiled her in 48 BC, shortly before the Roman general Pompey the Great arrived in Alexandria fresh from his defeat by Julius Caesar at the battle of Pharsalus. Ptolemy ordered Pompey's murder, but this only outraged Caesar, who showed up days later and occupied the royal palace. Cleopatra had herself wrapped in a carpet and smuggled into Caesar's presence for a meeting. This display of spunk by the nubile 20-year-old enchanted the dictator. The two likely became lovers that night, and Caesar's bitter Alexandrine War, which ended in the defeat and death of Ptolemy XIII, was fought on her behalf. Caesar tarried a while longer in Egypt while Cleopatra conceived and bore him a son, Ptolemy XV also known as Caesarion ("Little Caesar"). Caesar returned to Rome in 47 BC and summoned Cleopatra to join him the following year. She was thus in Rome when Caesar was murdered on March 15, 44 BC. Returning to Alexandria, she was summoned to meet the Triumvir Marc Antony at Tarsus in 41 BC. Once again, a powerful Roman succumbed to Cleopatra's charms, and within a year she had borne Antony twins, a boy and a girl, and another boy a few years later. Antony's adoption of "barbaric" Egyptian customs, his increasing dependence on Cleopatra, and his promise to bestow most of Rome's eastern possessions upon her and her children, led his partner in power, Octavian, to declare war on them, in 32 BC. Antony fought a lethargic campaign and suffered a heavy naval defeat at Actium in September, 31 BC, after which he and Cleopatra fled to Egypt. On Octavian's approach in 30 BC, Antony committed suicide and Cleopatra followed suit days later, utilizing the poisonous bite of the sacred asp. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-republic/ancients-cleopatra-vii-of-egypt-and-marc-antony-as-rulers-of-the-east-37-30-bc-ar-denarius-18mm-357-gm-12h-/a/3115-32225.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3115-05082024 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
Match 2:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > CSNS Signature Sale 3115 | Auction date: 8 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 31049 Price realized: 15,000 USD (Approx. 13,955 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Marc Antony, as Rulers of the East (37-30 BC). AR denarius (18mm, 3.48 gm, 1h). NGC Choice XF 4/5 - 3/5. Alexandria, 34-32 BC. CLEOPATRAE-REGINAE•REGVM•FILIORVM•REGVM, diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra right; prow right below / ANTONI•ARMENIA•DEVICTA, bare head of Marc Antony right; Armenian tiara behind. Crawford 543/1. Sydenham 1210. CRI 345. RSC 1. A magnificent, high-grade denarius of the famous couple, distinguished by its captivating cabinet toning. This series of coins celebrate Marc Antony's victory over Armenia, which was used as propaganda to bolster his image back in Rome after failing to defeat Parthia. During the Parthian campaign, Antony had enlisted the help of Armenia; however, when it became evident that their side would lose the war, King Artavasdes II fled back to Armenia. Antony viewed this abandonment as a betrayal. While, plotting his revenge on Artavasdes II, he played nice until he made it safely out of the Armenian region. In order to enact this revenge, Antony fled to his lover, Cleopatra, and in 37 BC, used the wealth of Egypt to depose King Artavasdes II. This monetary backing became known as the "Donations of Alexandria" and the resulting political fallout of this "donation" was swift. Octavian used Antony's entanglement with Egypt, and Cleopatra, as a reason for him to end his own politically tenuous coalition with Antony, turning the people against the couple and thereby sealing their fate. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-republic/ancients-cleopatra-vii-of-egypt-and-marc-antony-as-rulers-of-the-east-37-30-bc-ar-denarius-18mm-348-gm-1h-n/a/3115-31049.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3115-05082024 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Estimate: 15000-20000 USD |  |
Match 3:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > CSNS Signature Sale 3115 | Auction date: 8 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 32226 Price realized: 2,400 USD (Approx. 2,233 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Marc Antony, as Rulers of the East (37-30 BC). AR denarius (18mm, 3.88 gm, 1h). NGC Choice VF 4/5 - 1/5, pierced, inked collection number. Alexandria, 34-32 BC. CLEOPATRAE-REGINAE•REGVM•FILIORVM•REGVM, diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra right; prow right below / ANTONI•ARMENIA•DEVICTA, bare head of Marc Antony right; Armenian tiara behind. Crawford 543/1. Sydenham 1210. CRI 345. RSC 1. A pleasing example of this popular example that features two clear portraits of this famous couple. Interestingly, this coin was most likely worn as jewelry at some point. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-republic/ancients-cleopatra-vii-of-egypt-and-marc-antony-as-rulers-of-the-east-37-30-bc-ar-denarius-18mm-388-gm-1h-n/a/3115-32226.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3115-05082024 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
Match 4:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > NYINC Signature Sale 3114 | Auction date: 16 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 33235 Price realized: 1,150 USD (Approx. 1,056 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Marc Antony, as Imperator and Triumvir (ca. 43-30 BC). AR denarius (17mm, 3.79 gm, 7h). NGC Choice AU 4/5 - 4/5. Legionary issue, mint moving with Antony in Greece (Aegae or Patrae), 32-31 BC. ANT•AVG / III•VIR•R•P•C, war galley under oar right with triple ram prow and scepter tied with fillet / LEG-II, aquila right between two standards. Crawford 544/14. Sydenham 1216. Bright flashing example of this popular type. The legion possibly represented on this coin was Legio II Augusta. It was founded around 43 BC, and swore allegiance to Octavian after the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, and remained in his service through the Battle of Actium. Afterward, it was apparently dissolved between 30-14 BC, and soon after reformed as the new Legio II Augusta. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-republic/ancients-marc-antony-as-imperator-and-triumvir-ca-43-30-bc-ar-denarius-17mm-379-gm-7h-ngc-choice-au-4-5-/a/3114-33235.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3114-01162024 HID02906262019 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
Match 5:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > NYINC Signature Sale 3114 | Auction date: 16 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 33180 Price realized: 2,100 USD (Approx. 1,929 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients MAURETANIAN KINGDOM. Juba II (25 BC-AD 23/24), with Cleopatra Selene. AR denarius (19mm, 2.97 gm, 5h). NGC AU 5/5 - 3/5, brushed. Caesarea in Mauretania, ca. AD 16-17. REX IVBA, diademed head of Juba II right / BACIΛICCA / KΛЄOΠATPA, crocodile advancing left; dotted border. SNG Copenhagen 8, 568-569. Mazard 344. Nicely struck with underlying polychromatic and moody toning. The crocodile on the reverse is an allusion to Queen Cleopatra of Mauretania's maternal heritage. She was the daughter of Antony and Cleopatra, the last queen of the Ptolemaic dynasty that had ruled Egypt, a land fertile with crocodiles, for three centuries. In the same period, Augustus also struck denarii with a crocodile on the reverse, which celebrated the Roman conquest of Egypt. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-mauretanian-kingdom-juba-ii-25-bc-ad-23-24-with-cleopatra-selene-ar-denarius-19mm-297-gm-5h-ngc-a/a/3114-33180.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3114-01162024 HID02906262019 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
