![ROMAN REPUBLIC. Mark Antony, Legion Denarius, 'LEG VII' [ARR-84] - Image 2](https://colonialcoins.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ARR-84-1.jpg)
Description
Roman Republic, the Imperatorial Period, the Triumvirs, Mārcus Antōnius M.f. M.n. (Mark Antony) of gens Antōnia, Statesman, General and Triumvir of the Second Triumvirate, Silver Denarius (3.62g, 18mm), Legionary series – Legiō VII, military mint moving with Mark Antony (Patrae?) circa 32-31 BC. Obverse: Praetorian Galley in sail to the right, ores extended, billowing flag atop ship’s mast, legend surrounds above and below, “ANT AVG IIIVIR· R· P· C”. Reverse: The Seventh Legion’s Aquila central between two Signa Militaria, “LEG VII” below. Crawford-544/20; Sydenham-1224. Unevenly struck leaving a margin with quite soft devices, the present detail quite sharp and well centred overall, a nice example, good Very Fine.
The obverse Latin legend reads “Antōnius Augur, Triumvir reī pūblicae cōnstituendae”, with an English translation of “Antonius the Augur, Triumvir in deciding the Republic of the People”, with an English meaning of “[Marcus] Antonius the Augur, Triumvir of the Second Triumvirate, one of three men responsible for the Roman Republic”. The reverse Latin states the Legion name, “legiō septimus”, translated in English as “the seventh Legion”.
At the time of the late Roman Republic, the only attested Seventh Legion was Legiō VII Macedonia (later named ‘Claudia’ by emperor Claudius), ‘the 7th Macedonian Legion’, which was levied by Julius Caesar for his campaigns in Cisalpine Gaul, playing a major role throughout the entire campaign. After Gaul, it was one of two legions participating in Caesar’s invasion of Britannia 55-54 BC and later played a crucial role in the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC, thereafter being disbanded. It is likely that this is not the legion referred to on this Legionary denarius as following Caesar’s death they were recalled by Octavian and assumably serving Caesar’s heir at the Battle of Actium against Mark Antony.
