Indice Dietro Avanti
Denario di Mister Day: Antonio e Cleopatra
18.4.2006
Vorrei una consulenza numismatica su questa moneta con inciso il volto di M. Antonio da una parte e quello di Cleopatra dall'altra. 
Sulla parte di M. Antonio c'e scritto: ANTONI ARMENIA DEVICTA. Sulla parte di Cleopatra c'č sritto: REGINAE REGUM FILIORUM REGUM CLEOPATRAE. Le scritte le ho indicate leggendole partendo dalla sinistra in basso della moneta dalla parte di M. Antonio(piů o meno dietro il suo collo) e da sotto dalla 
parte di Cleopatra(piů o meno sotto il suo collo). 
Il PESO della moneta che trova nell'allegato č sui 3,5 3,6 gr. Il DIAMETRO č di circa 2 cm. Il COLORE č tipo argento. L'orefice con una STIMA A VISTA ha 
detto che si tratta di argento. L'ASSE DEL CONIO č a ore 6. Non sembra esserci presenza di materiale FERRO-MAGNETICO perchč a contatto con una calamita non succede assolutamente niente.
Ho trovato l'indirizzo e-mail attraverso il sito www.monetaromana.it
In attesa di risposta le invio Distinti Saluti

fig. 1
Cliccare sulle immagini di sopra per ingrandire
22.10.2009
Cortesemente vorrei avere delle notizie sulla moneta (vedi allegato). Quello che so della moneta :
Peso della moneta : 3,2 grammi
Diametro della moneta 18- 19 mm
E non presenta tracce di usura. Ho fatto la prova con la calamita non attira
Non so altro, mi affido a voi.
Cordiali Saluti
fig. 2
Cliccare sulle immagini per ingrandire
Assemini, 26.10.2009
Egregi Lettori,
visto che le richieste di consulenza sopra formulate attengono alla stessa tipologia monetale, non resta che fornire una risposta unica, valida per tutti. Di seguito riporto gli elementi significativi riguardanti le monete di cui sopra:

Denario1, zecca itinerante, 32 a. C.2, Crawford 542/1 (pag. 539), Sydenham 1210 (pag. 194), Cohen I 1 (pag. 57), indice di raritŕ "(7)".

Descrizione sommaria:
D. ANTONI•ARMENIA•DEVICTA3, leggenda lungo il bordo in senso orario. Testa nuda di Marco Antonio a destra, dietro tiara armena. Bordo perlinato.
R. REGINAE•REGVM•FILIORVM•REGVM•CLEOPATRAE4, leggenda lungo il  bordo, in senso orario. Busto di Cleopatra a destra, drappeggiato e diademato. Bordo perlinato. In prossimitŕ della punta del busto di Cleopatra si rileva una "R" che sostituisce, nelle monete in esame, la prua di nave, presente invece nelle monete originali5.

La ricerca nel web di monete di tipologia simile a quelle di figura ha prodotto i seguenti risultati:

  1. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear5/s1515.html AR denarius. ROMAN IMPERATORIAL. Mark Antony and Cleopatra. 34 BC. AR denarius (4.01 gm). Alexandria, autumn 34. ANTONI•ARMENIA•DEVICTA, bare head of Antony right, Armenian tiara behind / CLEOPATRAE REGINAE•REGVM•FILIORVM•REGVM•, diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra right, stem of prow before. CRI 345. RRC 543/1. CRI 346. RRC 542/1. Rare. Banker’s mark at ear of Cleopatra. Struck weakly. Otherwise very fine Estimated Value: $ 1,000.
  2. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/imp/cleopatra/RSC_0001.1.jpg Sale: CNG 61, Lot: 1601. Closing Date: Sep 25, 2002. MARK ANTONY & CLEOPATRA. BID Estimate $3000 MARK ANTONY & CLEOPATRA. 34 BC. AR Denarius (3.39 gm). Alexandria mint. Draped and diademed bust of Cleopatra right, prow before / Bare head of Antony right, Armenian tiara behind. Crawford 543/1; Sear, CRI 345; Sydenham 1210; RSC 1. Lightly toned VF. ($3000).
  3. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/imp/cleopatra/RSC_0001.2.jpg Mark Antony and Cleopatra. 34 BC. AR Denarius (3.43 gm). Alexandria mint. Bare head of Antony right, Armenian tiara behind / Draped and diademed bust of Cleopatra right, prow before. Crawford 543/1; Sear 345; Sydenham 1210; RSC 1. Fine, porous, obverse corrosion. 713174. Currently $1,009.99 08/25/99.
  4. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/imp/cleopatra/RSC_0001.6.jpg Lot Number: 63798 Estimate: $2,000.00 Final Sale Price: $1,705.00 Denomination: Denarius Grade: Good Fine Reference: Crawford 543/1; CRI 345; Sydenham 1210; RSC 1 Mark Antony and Cleopatra. 34 BC. AR Denarius (3.60 gm). Alexandria mint. CLEOPATRAE • REGINAE • REGVM • FILIORVM • REGVM, draped and diademed bust of Cleopatra right; prow before / ANTONI • ARMENIA • DEVICTA, bare head of Antony right; Armenian tiara behind. Crawford 543/1; CRI 345; Sydenham 1210; RSC 1. Near VF. Exceptional head of Cleopatra, and full legends! Scarce. Estimate $2000.
  5. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/imp/cleopatra/RSC_0001.7.jpg Sale: CNG 61, Lot: 1602. Closing Date: Sep 25, 2002. MARK ANTONY & CLEOPATRA. BID Estimate $4000 MARK ANTONY & CLEOPATRA. 34 BC. AR Denarius (3.43 gm). Alexandria mint. Draped and diademed bust of Cleopatra right, prow before / Bare head of Antony right, Armenian tiara behind. Crawford 543/1; Sear, CRI 345; Sydenham 1210; RSC 1. Attractively toned, good VF, some scattered light porosity, well struck, Cleopatra's name bold. ($4000) Ex The Miguel Muńoz Collection (Superior, 12-15 June 1978), lot 2652.
  6. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/imp/cleopatra/RSC_0001.8.jpg Mark Antony & Cleopatra. 34 BC. AR Denarius (3.24 gm). Alexandria mint. Draped and diademed bust of Cleopatra right; prow before / Bare head of Antony right; Armenian tiara behind. Crawford 543/1; Sear 345; Sydenham 1210; RSC 1. Toned, near Fine, several light scratches. 719884 Currently $586. Apr-05-00.
  7. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=7609 ANCIENT ROMAN IMPERATORIAL AND IMPERIAL SILVER COINS, Cleopatra and Mark Antony, Denarius, Alexandria, 34 BC, [CLEOPATRAE] REGINAE REGVM FILIOR[VM REGVM], diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra right, rev [ANT]ONI ARMENIA DEVI[CTA], head of Antony right, Armenian tiara behind, 3.65g (Cr 543/1; Syd 1210; RCV 1515). Reverse a little off-centre, toned, very fine. bought for Ł8/10/- The story of Cleopatra and Antony is a well-known tale, although in order to sustain the Ptolemaic kingdom, Cleopatra had influence in Roman affairs prior to this. Caesar arrived at Alexandria in 48 BC in pursuit of Pompey the Great, who had already been murdered on the orders of Ptolemy XIII. Caesar, having been captivated by Cleopatra, set about restoring her to the throne of Egypt. It is reported that he fathered a child, Caesarion, by her and when he returned to Rome to receive his triumphs, Cleopatra accompanied him. After Caesar’s assassination, she returned to Egypt and had her brother-husband Ptolemy XIV murdered so that she could take control of the kingdom. Cleopatra and Antony met in Tarsus in 41 BC, and their alliance culminated in their joint forces opposing those of Octavian at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC After they were forced to flee to the East, Antony committed suicide and, Octavian having annexed Egypt as his personal province, Cleopatra ended her life rather than face humiliation as Octavian’s trophy of war. Caesarion was murdered, but Cleopatra’s three children by Antony were spared and given to the care of their step-mother, Octavia.
  8. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=33172 MARK ANTONY and CLEOPATRA. 34 BC. AR Denarius (3.98 gm). Alexandria mint. Estimate $5000. MARK ANTONY and CLEOPATRA. 34 BC. AR Denarius (3.98 gm). Alexandria mint. ANTONI ARMENIA DEVICTA, bare head of Antony right; Armenian tiara behind / CLEOPATRA (sic) REGINAE REGVM FILIORVM REGVM, diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra right; prow before. Crawford 543/1; CRI 345; Sydenham 1210 var. (CLEOPATRAE); BMCRR East 179 var. (same); CNR II 2; RSC 1c. Lightly toned, good VF, a little softly struck at edge. An exceptional example of a coin which is notoriously difficult to obtain well struck and well preserved. ($5000). The consensus of opinion on the date and mint of this coin was relatively uniform until 1990, with the publication by R. Newman, "A Dialogue of Power in the Coinage of Antony and Octavian" in AJN 2, pp. 37-64. Sear (CRI) follows Newman in calling it an issue from Alexandria struck for Antony's Armenian triumph of the autumn of 34 BC, when the "celebrated and enigmatic" (per Sear)"Donations of Alexandria" took place. Newman states the minting of this coin "must have taken place in 34, the year of Antony's Alexandrian triumph, since it would otherwise be without context." He dismisses the very good arguments of Grueber and Sydenham for another logical context. They believe that this issue was struck at Ephesus in the winter of 33/2 BC by Antony to reward Cleopatra and pay for her immense contribution to the war effort. In 33 BC Antony was in Ephesus with his army when Cleopatra arrived with the Egyptian fleet. The Roman army and Egyptian fleet wintered at Ephesus in 33/2 BC, preparing for the coming conflict with Octavian. The legends on this coin could be translated as "[coin] of Antony, with Armenia being Conquered / For Cleopatra, Queen of Kings and of her Sons, being Kings." The Armenian crown behind Antony represents his victorious Roman army, the prow beneath Cleopatra (which appears on no other Roman coin of hers) stands for the mighty Egyptian fleet; combined they symbolize the full array of forces marshalled against Octavian.
  9. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=36588 Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Denarius (3.42 gm). Alexandria, 34 BC. CLEOPATRAE [REGINAE] REGVM FILIORVM REGVM, diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra right, prow before / ANTONI ARMENIA DEVICTA, head of Antony right, Armenian tiara behind. Crawford 543/1. Sydenham 1210. Sear, Imperators 345. Complete legends including Cleopatra's name. Banker's mark in obverse right field. Fine/very fine. Estimate: US$2000.
  10. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=62267 ANCIENT COINAGE SPECIAL COLLECTION OF ROMAN IMPERATORS AND EMPERORS ROMAN REPUBLIC Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra VII. No.: 1210 Schätzwert/Estimate: CHF 5000. Denarius 32, military mint (Alexandria) with Marcus Antonius. ANTONI ARM(ENIA DEVICTA) Head of Marc Antony to r., behind him Armenian tiara. Rev. CLEOPATRAE REGINAE REGVM FILIORVM REGVM Draped bust of Cleopatra wearing diadem to r., prow in front. Hair knotted in back, long bands hanging from diadem over her shoulder. 3,64 g. Cr. 543/1. Syd. 1210. C. 1. Sear 345. Very rare. Somewhat irregular planchet. Excellent portraits. Ex Auction Dupriez, Brussels, 23 October 1934, lot 48.
  11. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=62312 ROMAN IMPERATORIAL. Mark Antony and Cleopatra. 34 BC. AR denarius (4.01 gm). Alexandria, autumn 34. ANTONI•ARMENIA•DEVICTA, bare head of Antony right, Armenian tiara behind / CLEOPATRAE REGINAE•REGVM•FILIORVM•REGVM•, diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra right, stem of prow before. CRI 345. RRC 543/1. CRI 346. RRC 542/1. Rare. Banker’s mark at ear of Cleopatra. Struck weakly. Otherwise very fine. Estimate: $1,000.
  12. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=70429 Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Denarius, Autumn of 34 B.C. Alexandria. Diademed and draped bust r. of Cleopatra, stem of prow before; CLEOPATRAE REGINAE REGVM FILIORVM R[EGVM]. Rv. Bare head of Mark Antony r., Armenian tiara behind; ANTONI ARMENIA DEVICTA. Craw.543/1. Somewhat rough surfaces, lightly pitted on the reverse, toned a pleasing medium gray. Very Fine and rare. (4,000-5,000).
  13. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=93796 The Barry Feirstein Collection Part IV The Roman Republic Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra. Denarius, mint moving with M. Antony 32, AR 3.59 g. CLEOPATRAE ·REGINAE ·REGVM· FILIORVM·REGVM Draped and diademed bust of Cleopatra r. Rev. ANTONI· ARMENIA· DEVICTA Head of M. Antony r.; behind, Armenian tiara. B. Antonia 95. Sydenham 1210. C 1. Sear Imperators 345. Butcher, Coinage in Roman Syria p. 57, fig. 8.2. Crawford 543/1. Rare and in unusually good condition for the issue. Minor mark on obverse cheek and area of weakness on reverse, otherwise about extremely fine Ex Kunst und Munzen 1970, 102 and Superior 8-9 December 1995, 872 sales. Estimate: 6500 CH.
  14. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=93797 The Roman Republic Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra. Denarius, mint moving with M. Antony 32, AR 3.74 g. CLEOPATRAE ·REGINAE ·REGVM· FILIORVM·REGVM Draped and diademed bust of Cleopatra r. Rev. ANTONI· ARMENIA· DEVICTA Head of M. Antony r.; behind, Armenian tiara. B. Antonia 95. Sydenham 1210. C 1. Sear Imperators 345. Butcher, Coinage in Roman Syria p. 57, fig. 8.2. Crawford 543/1. Rare. Minor test-cut on obverse, otherwise good very fine / very fine. Estimate: 5000 CHF.
  15. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=136194 The Roman Republic No.: 428 Schätzwert/Estimation: CHF 2000.- d=18 mm M. Antonius and Cleopatra. Denarius, mint moving with M. Antony circa 32, AR 3.59 g. ANTONI·ARMENIA·DEVICTA Head of M. Antony r.; behind, Armenian tiara. Rev. [CLEOPATRAE ·REGINAE·RE]GVM·FILIORVM·REGVM Draped and diademed bust of Cleopatra r. FFC 2. B. Antonia 95. Syd. 1210. Sear Imperators 345. C 1. Cr. 543/1. Rare. Usual counter-mark on obverse, otherwise very fine.
  16. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=136942 THE ANCIENT WORLD ROMAN IMPERATORIAL COINAGE No.: 240 Estimate: USD 1000. Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, 51-30 BC, companion of Julius Caesar, fifth wife of Marc Antony. Denarius, 32-31 BC. Bare head of M. Antony r., an Armenian tiara behind / Diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra r., prow before; CLEOPATRAE REGINAE REGVM. Craw.543/1. RARE. Light surface marks. Even F.
  17. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=153927 ROMAN IMPERATORIAL. Mark Antony and Cleopatra. AR denarius (3.85 gm). Alexandria, autumn 34 BC. [CLEOPATRAE] REGINAE REGVM FILIORVM [REGVM], diademed, draped bust of Cleopatra right / ANTONI ARMENIA DE[VICTA], bare head of Antony right, Armenian tiara behind. Crawford 543/1. Sydenham 1210. RSC 1. CRI 345. RCTV 1515. Softly struck on Cleopatra's head. Semi-circular banker's mark above Cleopatra's diadem and inverted "S" banker's mark on Antony's jaw. Toned. Good fine. Ex F. Martin Post Collection. Estimate: $1,750.
  18. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=194483 Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Silver denarius (3.32 gm). , Alexandria, 32-31 BC. Diademed bust of Cleopatra right, prow before; around, CLEOPATRAE [REGINAE REGVM] FILIORVM REGVM / Head of Mark Antony right, Armenian tiara behind; ANTONI ARMENIA DEVICTA around. Crawford 543/1. Sydenham 1210. Sear, Imperators 345. Magnificent portrait of Cleopatra. Extremely fine with luster. Estimate: US$10000.
  19. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=203473 Auction 51 Part I The Roman Republic M. Antonius and Cleopatra. Denarius, mint moving with M. Antony 32, AR 3.73 g. [ANTONI·] ARMENIA· DEVICTA Head of M. Antony r.; behind, Armenian tiara. Rev. CLEOPATRAE ·REG INAE·REGVM· FILIORVM·REGVM Draped and diademed bust of Cleopatra r. B. Antonia 95. Sydenham 1210. C 1. Sear Imperators 345. Crawford 543/1. Butcher, Coinage in Roman Syria p. 57, fig. 8.2. Kent- Hirmer pl. 32, 111. Rare. Lovely iridescent tone and good very fine. Estimate: 5000 CHF.
  20. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=260647 300105. Sold For $7500. MARK ANTONY and CLEOPATRA. 34 BC. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.21 g, 1h). Alexandria mint. ANTONI ARMENIA DEVICTA, bare head of Antony right; Armenian tiara behind / CLEOPATRA (sic) REGINAE REGVM FILIORVM REGVM, draped bust of Cleopatra right, wearing stephane; prow before. Crawford 543/1; CRI 345; Sydenham 1210 var. (CLEOPATRAE); BMCRR East 179 var. (same); CNR II 2; RSC 1c. VF, toned. A well-centered and struck example of an important historical coin normally difficult to obtain well struck with full legends. Ex Boyd Collection (Baldwin's, 26 September 2005), lot 129, with his original ticket (numbered 847). Purchased from Spink, December 1894. The consensus of opinion on the date and mint of this coin was relatively uniform until the publication by R. Newman, "A Dialogue of Power in the Coinage of Antony and Octavian" in AJN 2, pp. 37-64. Sear (CRI) follows Newman in calling it an issue from Alexandria struck for Antony's Armenian triumph of the autumn of 34 BC, when the "celebrated and enigmatic" (per Sear) "Donations of Alexandria" took place. Newman states the minting of this coin "must have taken place in 34, the year of Antony's Alexandrian triumph, since it would otherwise be without context". He dismisses the very good arguments of Grueber and Sydenham for another logical context. They believe that this issue was struck at Ephesus in the winter of 33/2 BC by Antony to reward Cleopatra and pay for her immense contribution to the war effort. In 33 BC Antony was in Ephesus with his army when Cleopatra arrived with the Egyptian fleet. The Roman army and Egyptian fleet wintered at Ephesus in 33/2 BC, preparing for the coming conflict with Octavian. The legends on this coin could be translated as "[coin] of Antony, with Armenia being Conquered, for Cleopatra, Queen of Kings and of her Sons, being Kings". The Armenian crown behind Antony represents his victorious Roman army, the prow beneath Cleopatra (which appears on no other Roman coin of hers) stands for the mighty Egyptian fleet; combined they symbolize the full array of forces marshalled against Octavian. 
Concludo ricordando che le monete in esame fanno parte di una serie emessa negli anni 80 dalla Parmalat come gadget pubblicitari di una linea di prodotti dolciari (biscotti/merendine per bambini) denominata Mister Day (v. link). Tutte le monete della serie recano una piccola "R" sul rovescio ad indicare che sono riproduzioni. Un'ultima osservazione č che, essendo le monete in esame il risultato di una produzione industriale, presentano caratteristiche fisiche piů o meno identiche (peso, diametro e forma del contorno) e in ciň si differenziano dalle monete romane autentiche che, prodotte semiartigianalmente, non garantivano elevati standard di uniformitŕ. In considerazione della larga diffusione di queste monete e del loro contenuto didattico, ritengo utile farne oggetto di trattazione in questa rubrica.

Un saluto cordiale.
Giulio De Florio

-------------------------------
Note:
(1) Denario (argento). Raccolgo in tabella le caratteristiche fisiche dei denari di tipologia simile a quelli di figura tratte dai link di cui sopra: 

Riferimenti Peso (g.)  Diametro (mm) Asse di conio (h)
Link1 4,01 - -
Link2 3,39 - -
Link3 3,43 - -
Link4 3,60 - -
Link5 3,43 - -
Link6 3,24 - -
Link7 3,65 - -
Link8 3,98 - -
Link9 3,42 - -
Link10 3,64 - -
Link11 4,01 - -
Link13 3,59 - -
Link14 3,74 - -
Link15 3,59 - -
Link17 3,85 - -
Link18 3,32 - -
Link19 3,73 - -
Link20 3,21 17 1
Le monete in esame (3,5-3,6g, 20 mm, 6h) e (3,2g, 18-19mm 6h) presentano caratteristiche fisiche che non si discostano in modo sostanziale da quelle delle monete autentiche del periodo.
(2) La datazione di questa tipologia monetale non č univoca. Antonio aveva condotto la spedizione in Armenia  nel 36 e celebrato il trionfo ad Alessandria nel 34. Per questa ragione, come riferisce il link8, uno studioso, il Newton, ritiene che le monete di questa tipologia  siano state battute nel 34, diversamente l'emissione sarebbe stata fuori contesto. Il Grueber e il Sydenham ritengono invece che le monete di questo tipo siano state emesse ad Efeso nel 33/32 perché nel 33 Cleopatra svernň ad Efeso con la sua flotta per ricongiungersi con Antonio e condurre i preparativi della guerra contro Ottaviano.
(3) ANTONI(us) ARMENIA DEVICTA (che potrebbe tradursi "Antonio, avendo soggiogato l'Armenia"). La tiara, dietro la testa di Antonio, simboleggia la corona regale dell'Armenia conquistata:

Riproduco di seguito un commento qualificato su queste monete  tratto dal sito: "http://www.comune.bologna.it/iperbole/minghetti/percorsi/monete/civile.htm":
"Nel diritto vediamo rappresentato Antonio con l’indicazione del nome e la scritta ARMENIA DEVICTA ; nel rovescio č riprodotta Cleopatra con i titoli regali per sé e per i propri figli. M. Antonio per la terza volta si fa rappresentare con una donna, dopo Fulvia e Ottavia. Siamo nel 35 a. C. e il triumviro, dopo aver ripudiato Ottavia, ha solennemente celebrato in Alessandria le sue nozze con una regina barbara e la fa rappresentare insieme a lui con iscrizione in latino. Ormai la rottura con Ottaviano č definitiva e quindi lo sfida apertamente, infrangendo tutte le tradizioni repubblicane : con un’iniziativa del tutto personale ha intrapreso una spedizione contro i Parti e l’Armenia, che viene ricordata nella moneta, benché avesse avuto un esito piuttosto incerto e celebra il trionfo in Alessandria; con la tiara sul diritto allude alla sua sovranitŕ, mentre la prora sul retro ricorda l’aiuto ricevuto dalla flotta messa a disposizione da Cleopatra."
(4)  REGINAE REGVM (matri) FILIORVM REGVM CLEOPATRAE (che potrebbe tradursi, come sostiene Stevenson, "a Cleopatra, regina dei re, madre dei figli di re").
(5) La prua di nave, assente nelle monete in esame ma presente in quelle autentiche del periodo, simboleggia la potenza navale di Cleopatra. La "R" sulle monete in esame sta per "Replica" o "Riproduzione". 
Indice Dietro Avanti