Ancient Roman Imperatorial - 40 BCE Julius Caesar AR Denarius NGC XF in Fine Style - Q. Vaconious Vitulus moneyer

This rare denarius was struck during a time of conflict and war between Marc Antony and Octavian. Octavian had returned from the Battle of Philippi with the challenging task of settling around 40,000 veterans on their promised lands. Octavian obtained this land by force in Italy, which threatened his popularity. While Antony was in the Eastern empire, his wife Fulvia and brother Lucius Antonius took advantage of Octavian's difficulties by hassling him with political attacks that turned veterans of Antony against those of Octavian. Lucius gathered his brother's veterans and planned to attack Octavian, who intercepted Lucius' trek and compelled him to take refuge in Perusia. The Perusine War (41-40 BC) was a short-lived event when the threat of starvation resulted in Lucius surrendering in February of 40 B.C. Octavian took revenge upon the Perusians, but not upon Lucius or Fulvia. Nonetheless, both died shortly after the war, without Octavian having any role in their passing. Antony was distressed by Octavian's taking power in Gaul after the death of Antony's governor, the deaths of his wife and brother, and the siege in Perusia. After arriving at the port of Brundisium (spring 40 BC), Antony was refused entry to the harbor by Octavian's commanding officer. In response, Antony besieged Brundisium and reinforced his ties with Sextus Pompey, Octavian's archenemy in the West. Attempting damage control, Octavian hurriedly divorced his wife Claudia, married Sextus Pompey's sister-in-law, and led an army to the besieged port. This heated situation cooled down and Antony and Octavian settled their differences. A pact validated Antony's control of the East and Octavian's rule in the West, and the men were bound through the troubling marriage of Antony and Octavian's sister, Octavia. The two men now focused on pragmatic political goals:  Antony obtained legions from Octavian to invade Parthia, while Octavian gained war vessels from Antony to attack Sextus Pompey.