Ancient Rome - 41 BC Marc Antony & Octavian AR Denarius NGC AU

On 27 November 43 BC, the Second Triumvirate had been formed by Lepidus, Mark Antony and Octavian, but Lepidus soon left most of the power to the last two - who are depicted on this attractive coin. Antony occupies the obverse, the 'dominant' side, which seems justified considering that the coin was struck in mid-41 BC in Ephesus - part of the Eastern Empire which he ruled. This is significant because it is in this year that Antony first met Cleopatra VII in Tarsus (south-central Turkey), leading to their return together to Alexandria and his having Arsinoe killed. The style of this emission suggests that it was struck whilst Antony was still there, while the coins struck by M. Cocceius Nerva and L. Gellius Poplicola were probably issued after his departure. It is certainly a sign of their rivalry that this coin shows Mark Antony, a general born in 83 BC, as a virile middle-aged man, whilst Octavian - indeed an heir born twenty years later (his mother was Caesar's niece) - looks almost childish and less masculine. Ten years later Octavian would declare war on Cleopatra, who had become Antony's wife, leading to the Battle of Actium in September 31 BC after which they both killed themselves (Antony on 1 August and Cleopatra on 12 August 30 BC). 

Not very much is known on this moneyer, Marcus Barbatius Pollio quaestor pro praetore. As noted by R. Syme, Cicero names 'the Baebatii Pollios' in his discourses to the Senate (Philippica XIII.3), Appian tells us that he was quaestor of M. Antonius in 41 BC (Bella civilia V.31.120 f.), and the 'M. Barbatius' named on this coin " can be identified without discomfort as the curule aedile M. Barbatius Pollio of a Roman inscription (ILS 9261). Further, this man is detected as the M. Barbatius, duumvir with a M.' Acilius (they were represented by praefecti) on a coin of Parium on the Hellespont; and it has been claimed that this pair of agents carried out a refounding of that colonia for Octavian shortly after the Battle of Actium" (" Who Was Vedius Pollio?", in The Journal of Roman Studies, vol. 51 (1961), pp. 23-30: pp. 24-25).