Mark Antony, 44-30 BC. Denarius (Silver, 17 mm, 3.74 g, 5 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•LYBICAE Aquila between two signa. Babelon (Antonia) 130. Crawford 544/11. CRI 375. RBW 1836. Sydenham 1240. An exceptionally well preserved example, surely one of the finest known. Minor die break on the reverse, otherwise, good extremely 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. They 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.