Mark Antony, 44-30 BC. Denarius (Silver, 17 mm, 3.74 g, 1 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 XVIII Aquila between two signa. Babelon (Antonia) 129. Crawford 544/33. RBW -. Sydenham 1239. Struck from a worn reverse die, otherwise, good very fine.



Of the twenty-two legions named on Mark Antony's legionary denarii, only three carried special names along with their numerals, namely the Legio XII Antiquae, the Legio XVII Classicae, and the Legio XVIII Lybicae. Although this coin of the XVIII legion does not carry the name Lybicae, it is indeed a coin of that legion. The coins with legionary names are not to be confused with Octavian's similarly numbered legions and were likely raised on short notice by Antony prior to the clash with his opponent. The name Lybica indicates that its soldiers came from North Africa.