Silver Tetradrachm, Alexandria, 36 BCE
Type/Object Name: Ob: Bust of Cleopatra VII. Inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΑ ΚΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑ ΘΕΑ ΝΕΩΤΕΡΑ (“BASILISSA KLEOPATRA THEA NEOTERA” = “Queen Cleopatra, the younger goddess”). | :Head of Marc Antony. Inscription ΑΝΤΩΝΙΟΣ ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΩΡ ΤΡΙΤΟΝ ΤΡΙΩΝ ΑΝΔΡΩΝ (“ANTONIOS AUTOKRATOR TRITON TRION ANDRON” = “Antonius, imperator for the third time, one of the triumvirs”).
Dates: 36 BCE
Medium: Silver (81%), Tetradrachm
Dimensions: Diameter 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’s famous play, Antony and Cleopatra.
Collection: Coin, John Nebel
Bibliography: 1.Burnett, Andrew, Michel Amandry, and Pere Pau Ripollès. 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.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.Svoronos, J. N. 1904. Ta Nomismata tou Kratous ton Ptolemaion, Meros Deuteron. Page 316 #1897 and Plate LXIII #22-23. Athens: P. D. Sakellariou.