The MPC Gram, which is open forum for collectors specializing in worldwide military payment certificates and vouchers, recently mentioned coinage struck for the sole purpose of paying troops. This really rang a bell, so I had to do a little digging around in my accumulation of stuff to come up with a  neat example for one of  the more famous issues of ancient times.

Let's travel back in time to the Roman Empire, where there is two major series. The first I will mention is for military conquests and victories. The earliest type recorded was struck during the reign of Augustus featuring a crocodile on the reverse, issued in 28-27 B.C., which reflects the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra and the annexation of the former Ptolemaic Kingdom.

The second series of Roman coins is the legionary types issued by five rulers, from the first century B.C. to the end of the third century A.D. The main reason for their issue was to inspire the loyalty of the troops whose legions were honored. Marc Antony and Septimius Severus are similar with a basic reverse of a legionary eagle perched on a stand between two standards.

My favorite is the silver denarius that has a legionary galley on the obverse with the legend "ANT.AVG.III "  above and "VIR R. P. C." below.

The reverse legend  "LEG. V" below the eagle relates to the various legions it was issued for.

After the battle of Philippi Antony went to Asia where he met Cleopatra and was "swept off his feet" so to say, by her. A quarrel with Octavian, who was part of the second Triumvirate along with Lepidus, that was formed in 43 B.C. by Marc Antony, led to the battle of Actium. Being defeated by Octavian, he fled to Egypt with Cleopatra and later committed suicide in Alexandria in 30 B.C.

Measuring 16mm this silver denarius was struck for Legion V.