Age cannot wither her, wrote Shakespeare of Cleopatra. Oh yes it can, and Antony fares no better.

Richard Burton, of the manly jaw and resonant voice, and Elizabeth Taylor, of the raven hair and dazzling eyes, portrayed two of history’s most romanticised lovers in their 1963 film as though each were a perfect specimen of their sex. New evidence suggests that the original characters were really a rather ugly pair.

Far from being the demi-Atlas of this Earth, Antony had bulging eyes, a hook nose and a thick neck. And Cleopatra – she whose person beggared all description – actually had a shallow forehead, pointed chin, thin lips and a sharp nose.

The evidence comes from a silver coin of 32BC, the size of a modern 5p, which goes on show at Newcastle University today to celebrate Valentine’s Day. It was found in a collection that belongs to the city’s antiquaries society and which was being researched in preparation for the new Great North Museum. It had lain for years in a bank vault.

Clare Pickersgill, the university’s assistant director of archaeological museums, said: “The popular image of Cleopatra is that of a beautiful queen who was adored by Roman politicians and generals. The relationship between Mark Antony and Cleopatra has long been romanticised by writers, artists and film-makers.”

And by none more than Shakespeare, whose twin motives were to please the groundlings at the Globe theatre who had no seats for their bums, and his royal patron. James I had come to the throne by the time that Antony and Cleopatra was written. He may have been a bisexual Presbyterian, but he liked a good love story.

“The Orientalist artists of the 19th century and the modern Hollywood depictions have added to the idea that Cleopatra was a great beauty,” Ms Pickersgill said. “Recent research would seem to disagree.”

Lindsay Allason-Jones, Newcastle University’s director of archaeological museums, said: “The image on the coin is far from that of Taylor and Burton. Roman writers tell us that Cleopatra was intelligent and charismatic and had a seductive voice, but, tellingly, they do not mention her beauty. The image of her as a beautuful seductress is a more recent image.”

The coin is thought to have been issued by the mint of Mark Antony. He was a rival to Julius Caesar, who also fell for the Egyptian queen’s charms. On one side is the head of Antony with the inscription Antoni Armenia Devicta – “for Antony, Armenia having been vanquished”. On the other is a portrait of Cleopatra with the inscription Cleopatra Reginae regum filiorumque regum, which translates as “For Cleopatra, queen of kings and of the children of kings” or possibly “Queen of kings and of her children who are kings”.

The coin, on display at the Shefton Museum of the university, may undermine a myth, but it must also be an encouragement to those without film-star looks who may still find eternity in their lips and eyes and bliss in their brows bent.

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