Marcus Antonius

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The tragic exploits of Marc Antony and Cleopatra memorialized by William Shakespeare have offered many students and budding scholars their first view into Roman politics on the edge of the creation of the Roman Empire. However Antony's dalliances with Cleopatra were only one part of a brilliant Roman general and politicians life. Marc Antony was an integral part of Roman political life from his early years as tribune, his position as co-consul with Julius Caesar in 42 BCE, and finally his membership in the "second triumvirate" after Caesar's death with Gaius Octavius Caesar (originally Gaius Octavius Thurinus, then Octavian, and later Augustus), and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. This exhibit will utilize the coinage minted under Antony's authorization to illustrate how Antony attempted to associate his name with Caesars, and therefore cement his control of the Roman state at the expense of Lepidus and Octavian. Lepidus is not included in this discussion as he seems to play a small part in the machinations of power between Antony and Octavian. The power struggles are poignantly illustrated through the various obverse and reverse types, and legends Antony used on his coinage to reinforce and protect his position in the triumvirate. These depictions span from 42 BCE, two years after Julius Caesars' assassination to the battle of Actium, a year before Antony's suicide with Cleopatra in 31. The coinage helps to illuminate and reinforce literature and historical narratives from the Roman Republic. Unlike some triumviral period literature, coinage can be examined in its original, unaltered form. The narrative contained on coinage serves to illustrate the various devices Antony used to cement and shape his legacy and power in the last days before Octavian's creation of the principate that would rule the Roman Empire. In order to understand the drive and ambition that fueled Antony's grab for power after Caesar's murder it is helpful to examine his life before 44BCE. Antony was born to a prominent family related to Julius Caesar through Antony's mother Julia. His stepfather died when Antony was very young and his stepfather was executed in 63 BCE under the orders of the great orator Cicero for purportedly participating in the Catalinarian conspiracy (Plutarch,Antony). By this point in Antony's life he had developed the rash, daring personality that would mark his rapid ascension to power and final destruction in the triumvirate. Plutarch in his biography states "by the worse of misfortunes, he fell into the acquaintance and friendship of Curio,... [who] plunged him into a life of drinking and dissipation ." He was characterized as having a "vaunting temper, full of empty flourishes and unsteady attempts for glory (Plutarch, Antony)." These "attempts for glory" led Antony to join the forces of Gabinus in Syria and Jerusalem where he proved to be a superb soldier. During Julius Caesar's civil war with Pompey, Antony served valiantly first in the council and then on the battlefield garnering the favor of Caesar. When Caesar assumed the dictatorship he appointed Antony the head of his horsemen and in 42BCE made him co-consul(Plutarch). Antony rose to prominence when he gave the speech at Caesar's funeral which incited the crowd to stone the houses of Caesar's assassins. Soon after Caesar was murdered Antony, Lepidus, and Gaius Octavius formed the second triumvirate to fill the void. However there were numerous conflicts among the members of the triumvirate with all of them attempting to legitimate their claims to the Caesarian legacy. Octavian, Lepidus, and Antony soon agreed to split the republic among themselves. However Antony continued to struggle, at times openly and violently, with Octavian for supreme imperatorial authority. Antony was given control of the east (with the exception of Africa which was controlled by Sextus Pompeius) and Octavian the west. In order to cement the bond between Antony and Octavian, Antony married Octavia, Octavians half sister in 40 BCE. In this context, Antony utilized his coinage to illustrate his legitimacy and close ties to Caesar. The varying alliances and peace agreements are reflected upon his coinage up until Antony's suicide in Egypt in 30 BCE. Interestingly enough Antony used his coinage it appears to co-opt a piece of Caesar's legacy. Despite the fact that Antony fought valiantly for his kinsman in the senate when Caesar was involved in a civil conflict with Pompey, and later in Spain with Caesar, he also may have been aware of the plot to kill Caesar. Plutarch writes that Brutus and Cassius, Caesars' assassins: in making choice of trusty friends for such an enterprise, were thinking to engage Antony....[Furthermore Trebonius another co-conspirator said in his travel with Antony ] ...he had let fall several words, in a cautious way, on purpose to sound him; that Antony very well understood him, but did not encourage it; however, he had said nothing of it to Caesar, but had kept the secret faithfully (Plutarch, Antony). Furthermore Plutarch asserts Antony ate with Cassius that very night! Marcus Antonius perhaps was an opportunist who recognized an opportunity to exploit the passions of fellow senators to carve out a place of power for himself. This is reflective of his earlier military achievements where he had proven himself a superb strategist.

While the coinage put out by Antony, reflects actual attempts to legitimate his power and position, it also is unique. Unlike written sources that must be translated in all there complexities, coins present a relatively clear compact statement of purpose. I will attempt to use select examples of Marc Antony's coinage to elucidate how he attempted to secure his own legacy while still attaching himself to Caesar's. His utilization of selected iconography and legend serves to give modern scholars an insight into Roman history that is more clearly political than the writings of translated historians who may have aimed to be somewhat impartial on the model of Aristotle. Furthermore Antony's impetuous grabs for power and political savvy are reflected upon his coinage. ĘKevin Hofelmann

Works Cited

Plutarch. Antony. translated. John Dryden. online. 5-6-02. http://classics.mit.edu/Plutarch/antony.html

Works Consulted

Antony, Octavian, Cleopatra: The End of the Republic. online. 5/4/02. http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/antony.html

Augustus. The Facts. online 5/4/02. http://restena.lu/caw/332321.htm

Mark Antony, online. 5/6/02. http://library.thinkquest.org/11402/bio_antony_html