ROMAN. Mark Antony and Lepidus. The Triumvirs. May to summer 43 BC. Silver Quinarius (1.80g). Military mint travelling with Antony and Lepidus in Transalpine Gaul. Emblems of the augurate: lituus, capis and raven standing left / Emblems of the pontificate: simpulum, aspergillum, securis and apex. Crawford 489/3; CRI 120; Sydenham 1158a; King 73; RSC 3; RBW 1710. VF. This quinarius was struck in 43 BC, as Mark Antony and Lepidus moved with their forces in Transalpine Gaul, during the political and military manoeuvring that preceded the formal establishment of the Second Triumvirate. The obverse emblems of the augurate and the reverse emblems of the pontificate advertise their high priestly offices, underlining that their emerging political authority rested on Rome's sacred religious power. Rare and in unusually fine condition for the issue, with lovely old cabinet toning, this very rare quinarius is almost never encountered in such preservation, as most known examples of the type are of poor quality or far off-centre. The piece offered here is superbly struck, unusually well centred and with exceptionally clear detail, and is clearly one of the finest known examples of this elusive type, markedly superior in centering and overall appearance to the specimen sold in CNG Auction 561, lot 577 (1 May 2024), hammered USD 500. (P)

Estimate: AUD 1000