The most famous period of ancient history, where titanic personalities like Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Cleopatra, and Augustus shaped an age of great turmoil and transformation. The epoch began with Julius Caesar's legendary decision to cross the Rubicon River with his army in 49 BC. His assassination on the Ides of March by the Liberators, led by Brutus and Cassius, prompted his 19-year old adopted son Octavian to prove himself tougher than all his rivals, slowly becoming sole master of the Roman world. His last challenge came in the form of his former ally Mark Antony and the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, who he defeated at Actium in 31 BC.
Roman Republic – Mark Antony Silver ‘Portrait’ Denarius – Athens Mint, Struck 32 BC
Mark Antony & Octavian (Second Triumvirate) Roman Silver Denarius, Military Mint, 41 BC
Julius Caesar (48/47 BC) Roman Silver Denarius – Aeneas & Anchises at the Fall of Troy
Roman Republic – Julius Caesar Silver Portrait Denarius (40 BC) – Bull Reverse
Cleopatra of Egypt (r. 51-30 BC) Bronze Portrait Diobol, Alexandria – Eagle Reverse
Roman Republic – Octavian (Augustus) Silver Denarius, 36 BC – Temple of Divus Julius Caesar
*Impressive Portrait* Ptolemaic Egypt – Cleopatra (r. 51-30 BC) Bronze Diobol, Alexandria – Eagle Reverse
Roman Republic – L. Valerius Acisculus (45 BC) Silver Denarius – Apollo/Europa & Bull
Second Triumvirate – Mark Antony & Octavian (41 BC) Roman Silver Denarius, Military Mint
Julius Caesar, Dictator for Life (Mar-Apr 44 BC) Roman Silver Portrait Denarius – Venus Reverse
Roman Republic – Cnaeus Pompey the Younger (46/45 BC) Silver Denarius – Civil War vs. Caesar Issue
Phoenicia, Tyre (dated 38/37 BC) Silver Shekel – Heracles/Eagle – Biblical Judas’s 30 Pieces of Silver
*Rare* Ptolemaic Egypt – Cleopatra (r. 51-30 BC) Bronze Portrait Issue – Orthoseia, Phoenicia – Ba’al Reverse
C. Cassius Longinus, assassin of Caesar Silver Denarius (Smyrna, 42 BC) – Head of Libertas