Mark Antony - Legion X - Fretensis

Marcus Antonius. Denarius mint moving with M. Antony 32-31 B.C., AR 19.5mm., 3.83g. ANT AVG – III·VIR·R·P·C, Praetorian Galley r., with sceptre tied with fillet on prow. Rev. LEG – X, Aquila between two standards. Sharp EF and exceptional detail and preservation. Agora Sale 62, Lot 157 ($753 total), where it was described, incorrectly, as Legion X Gemina.
Babelon Antonia 117. C 38. Sydenham 1228. Sear Imperators 361. Crawford 544/24.
There are a whole host of these used for payment of Army & Navy troops that fought in the famous battles of Pharsalus and Actium. Presumably all of the Legions participating in the battle by Marcus Antonius are represented. However, Legion X FRETENSIS is the most notable because this Legion X was Julius Caesar's favorite legion in the Gallic Wars. Claimed to be struck at a military field mint at Patrae between 32 - 31 B.C.
Presumably all of the Legions participating in the battle by Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony) are represented. His silver denarii bear the name of one of his 23 regular legions or two specialized units (the praetorian cohorts and the cohort of speculatores), all represented on his Legionary denarii. However, Legion X Fretensis is the most notable because this Legion X was Julius Caesar's favorite legion in the Gallic Wars.
Legion X (Fretenis) fought at the battles of Pharsalus and Actium. Later this Legion X was moved to Judea & Syria where it encamped in Jerusalem. It participated in the suppression of the 1st and 2nd Jewish Revolts. Countermarked [X] copper coins exist overstruck on local, often Judean, and Roman provincial issues. Recently a hoard of these countermarked Legio X coins were found at the Gonio Apsaros fortress in the country of Georgia. It is thought that these are from the 114 A.D. and the Emperor Trajan's conquest of Mesopotamia and Armenia. That successful campaign extended the Roman Empire to it's greatest extent of it's history. This is off the top of my head so please allow me a few errors before I correct any mistakes as a write a short paper, to be posted here eventually.
Professor Theodore Mommsen, who made many documented errors, in his writing on Roman history, also managed to mix up the identifications of the two 10th Legions. He originally declared that the 10th Gemina (Twins) was the favorite legion of Julius Caesar, having fought bravely for him in his Gallic Wars. Recent scholarship, by a host of historians, now shows that Legion X FRETENSIS was the famous legion, that stands out among all the other legions, that Julius Caesar raised in southern Spain in 61 B.C.
Following: [The Numismatist; Feb. 1975] Actium, depicted on the obverse a galley with inscription ANT(onius) AVG(ustus) III VIR R(ei) P(ublicae) C(onstituendae). The reverse portrayed a legionary eagle between two standards, with the legend calling on a particular legion, e.g. LEG(io) III. There were issues for LEG(io) PRI(ma) through LEG(io) XXIII. These issues graphically displayed what had been apparent for a long time, the dependence of any would-be ruler upon the loyalty of his army. During the Empire, these issues were to become particularly common, especially when a ruler was unsure of the loyalty of his army. Antony's army displayed its loyalty at Actium and afterwards. With the defeat of Antony the entire Roman world fell into the hands of Augustus. Special and extra-legal issues ceased and the coinage once again became uniform, though with a completely new orientation. The basic aim of the coinage, now and throughout the duration of the Empire, became the glorification of the imperial family.