AR Denarius of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII

AR Denarius of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII

money; coins (money)

The obverse of this coin depicts the bust of Roman Emperor Mark Antony, while the reverse depicts the bust of Cleopatra VII, Queen of Egypt. These two rulers share one of the most famous love stories of all time, as once they fell in love, they soon married in 36 BCE and simultaneously ruled the Roman Republic and Egypt. After Antony’s biggest rival for power Octavian declared war against the couple, they fled to Egypt where Antony committed suicide to avoid imprisonment, and soon after Cleopatra followed suit by supposedly allowing a poisonous snake to bite her breast.

Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII, Queen of Egypt

Syd 1210, Craw 543/1

ARTH250 (Professor V. Rousseau, fall 2019)

32-31 BCE

Cooper Hanson

University Art Collection, University of St. Thomas (St. Paul)

[no text]

Silver (metal)

Latin

Physical Object

2012.02.123

Roman Republic