Mark Antony, 44-30 BC. Denarius (Silver, 17 mm, 3.80 g, 6 h), military mint moving with Mark Antony (Patrae?), 32-31. ANT•AVG - III•VIR•R•P•C Galley right, with scepter tied with fillet on prow. Rev. LEG - XV Aquila between two signa. Babelon (Antonia) 125. Crawford 544/30. RBW 1845. Sydenham 1235. Lustrous, sharply struck and exceptionally well preserved. Minor flan faults on the obverse, otherwise, virtually as struck.


The original Legio XV was raised by Julius Caesar in Gaul in 53 BC to fight Vercingetorix and was destroyed during Caesar’ African campaign against the Pompeians in 49-48 BC. Its namesake, the Legio XV mentioned on this coin, was recruited shortly before Philippi and was either destroyed or disbanded after Actium. Quite remarkably, at the same battle, Octavian had his own unit of the same number, the Legio XV Apollinaris.