FRIENDS OF ROME

Minted in honor of Marc Antony’s Fourth Legion this small silver coin displays a galley on the obverse and the famous Roman eagle standard on the reverse. The Roman legion consisted of around 5,000 men making it equivalent to a modern brigade. The legion was designed to be self sufficient with its own engineers, scouts, and supply train. Roman legions fought against both foreign and domestic threats. Marc Antony’s Fourth famously fought other Romans led by Brutus in the Liberator Civil War. Furthermore, the legions were often multicultural, Rome gave citizenship to those who served in its military. The legions then were not only the fist of Rome, but the outstretched hand as well. 

Cleopatra was one of the most famous foreign allies to Rome. She was Greek by blood and ruled over Egypt. Her diplomatic and romantic relationship with Marc Antony led to Egypt supporting the Roman Triumvirate during the Liberator’s Civil War. However, Rome proved to not be a monolith and following the death of Marc Antony her country was invaded by Octavian, another member of the triumvirate. Ultimately allying with the wrong portion of the Roman government led to her death, she committed suicide following her defeat by Octavian. 

Julius Caesar set the example that would lead to the creation of the Roman Empire, succeeding the earlier republic. One of his most famous acts, that of crossing the Rubicon, was one of defiance. He ignored the will of the Roman Senate to attack Gauls who were nominally allies of Roman. Caesar’s actions greatly expanded the reach and status of the Roman Republic. He made significant progress towards making Rome the powerhouse it would later become. Ultimately these actions made the Roman senate view him as a threat and he was assassinated on March 14th. 44 BCE. This lead to further turmoil within Rome as the state descended into the Liberator’s Civil War. 

During the fall of the Western Roman empire the Eastern Roman empire survived on as the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Empire last for a millennium after the fall of the Roman Empire. The Byzantine Empire initially maintained the same Roman system of government and law, as well as the Roman culture. Those who were Byzantines even called themselves “Roman”. On the observe of the coin there is a portrait of Constans II. Throughout a period of this time Constans II or Constans the Bearded ruled as emperor. Constans II had little time to warm his throne as outsiders were trying to take down the Byzantine Empire. The reverse of the coin shows a cross which may symbolize the devotion to Christianity. 

This coin was commissioned by Quintus Fabius Maximus, one of the greatest military leaders of Rome. During the Second Punic War against Carthage Rome was in great danger of falling to the armies of Hannibal. Q. Fabius Maximus led the Roman armies in a guerilla campaign to slowly weaken the Carthaginian invaders. This tactic proved unpopular with the Roman populace who wanted the Roman legions to meet Hannibal and defeat him in open battle. After the Romans suffered a crushing defeat at the battle of Cannae, they quickly changed their tune. Support for Q. Fabius Maximus was restored and he continued in leadership roles until his death. He was given the title “cunctator” meaning the delayer for his role in wearing down the Carthaginian army.