Roman Republic: Marc Antony (43-30 BC). AR denarius (20mm, 2h). NGC Fine, bankers marks, brushed....

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Marc Antony (43-30 BC). AR denarius (20mm, 2h). NGC Fine, bankers marks, brushed. Military mint traveling with Antony, ca. 33-32 BC, M. Junius Silanus, quaestor and proconsul. ANTON AVG IMP III COS DES III III•V•R•P•C•, bare head of Marc Antony right; P• behind ear / ANTONIVS / AVG•IMP•III, legend in two lines. Crawford 542/2. Sydenham 1209. Antonia 97 and Junia 172. Magenta and azure toning.

Marc Antony, or Marcus Antonius, was a political and military figure who played a key role in the transformation of Rome from a republic to an empire. He began his career in 57 BC as a calvary commander under Aulus Gabinius while in Egypt and Judea but quickly caught the eye of Julius Caesar. He would join Caesar's staff during his conquest of Gaul and would be promoted to quaestor in 52 BC, securing him a place in the senate. Soon after, in 49 BC, a civil war between Caesar and Pompey would mark the beginning of the end of the republic. Antony would remain loyal to Caesar even after this civil war led to his assassination in 44 BC, which marked an in-between period for Rome.
Antony would eventually control the eastern portion of Rome's territories while Octavian (Augustus) controlled the west. However, threatened by Octavian, Antony would find an ally in Cleopatra to cling to power, however both would perish in the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, in which Octavian would successfully seize Egypt under Roman control - ensuring his position as emperor by 29 BC.
The small P on the obverse represents the only known example of an artist engraving his initials on a Roman Republican coin type. This fact went unnoticed for centuries, until it was first pointed out in a Santamaria sales catalog in 1920.

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