Silver Tetradrachm, Alexandria, 36 BCE
Type/Object Name:聽 Ob:聽Bust of Cleopatra VII. Inscription 螔螒危螜螞螜危危螒 螝螞螘螣螤螒韦巍螒 螛螘螒 螡螘惟韦螘巍螒 (鈥淏ASILISSA KLEOPATRA THEA NEOTERA鈥 = 鈥淨ueen Cleopatra, the younger goddess鈥). | 搁别:听Head of Marc Antony. Inscription 螒螡韦惟螡螜螣危 螒违韦螣螝巍螒韦惟巍 韦巍螜韦螣螡 韦巍螜惟螡 螒螡螖巍惟螡 (鈥淎NTONIOS AUTOKRATOR TRITON TRION ANDRON鈥 = 鈥淎ntonius, imperator for the third time, one of the triumvirs鈥).
Dates: 36 BCE
Medium: Silver (81%), Tetradrachm
Dimensions: Diameter聽26.7 mm, Weight 15.0362 g
Credit Line: Courtesy of John Nebel
Notes: Egypt and the Coming of Rome
Cleopatra VII was the last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt before it was conquered by Rome in 30 BCE. She was renowned for her intelligence, power, and beauty, and the Roman general Julius Caesar fell in love with her, followed by Mark Antony. On this coin, the obverse shows Cleopatra as the divine Queen of Egypt, while the reverse shows the Roman general Mark Antony as a successful politician and general. For a brief period, Cleopatra and Mark Antony sought to rule together. They fought a sea battle against the Roman general Octavius (known later as the emperor Augustus) at Actium in 31 BCE. After that loss, Cleopatra returned to Egypt. Legend says she died by suicide, by clutching a poisonous asp to her breast. The love shared between Cleopatra and Antony provided inspiration for Shakespeare鈥檚 famous play, Antony and Cleopatra.听
Collection: Coin, John Nebel
Bibliography: 1.听Burnett, Andrew, Michel Amandry, and Pere Pau Ripoll猫s. 1998. Roman Provincial Coinage Volume I: From the death of Caesar to the death of Vitellius. Pages 601-602 #4094 and Plate 155 #4094. London: British Museum Press. 2.听Wroth, Warwick. 1899. Catalogue of the Greek Coins of Galatia, Cappadocia, and Syria.Page 158 #53 and Plate XIX #3. London: The Trustees of the British Museum. 3.听Svoronos, J. N. 1904. Ta Nomismata tou Kratous ton Ptolemaion, Meros Deuteron. Page 316 #1897 and Plate LXIII #22-23. Athens: P. D. Sakellariou.听