CLEOPATRA VII and MARK ANTON
Denarius ca. 34 B.C. Alexandria
Obverse: CLEOPATRAE REGINAE REGVM FILIORVM REGVM Draped bust of Cleopatra facing right, (three-quarters facing forward), base of ship's bow (L) below. Cleopatra VII 69 - 30 BC.
Rev: ANTONI ARMENIA DEVICTA Nude head of Mark Antony facing right; behind a small tiara
- Mark Antony 86 - 30 BC.
- Mintage: Asia Minor 32 - 31 BC.
- Diameter 1,8cm
- Silver color
- Material pewter
- Hand minted
The last queen of Egypt Cleopatra VII, at that time the mistress of Marcus Antonius, bears on this denarius the title "Queen of Kings and Sons of Kings".
Cleopatra received this title from her lover Marc Antony during a great triumphal procession in Alexandria for the victory over Armenia.
It corresponded to the title of emperor and caused corresponding indignation among the citizens of Rome. Cleopatra's children were also elevated to kings on this occasion. This can also be inferred from the inscription on the coin. After the defeat in the great naval battle of Actium, Cleopatra VII chose death by her own hand, by poison, so as not to be taken and paraded in Octavian's triumphal procession to Rome.
According to tradition, Cleopatra had arranged for her personal physician Olympos to spread the legend that she died from the bite of a cobra, so that she could be worshipped as Nea Isis. Each piece has a unique appearance due to the hand-stamped manufacturing.
