A modest Quinarius of M Cato

When I first stumbled upon this worn coin, my first thought was ..." definitely not worth more than $40.00 shipped..." but since the required initial bid was within that range, I took a stab at it. Predictably, I found reasons to like it the more I gazed upon it and 'researched' the type---although I'm still a bit confused about the 'moneyer' since Cato the Younger (95-46 BC) would have been about six years old when this coin was struck about 89 BC ??

The significance of Liber and seated Victory seem clear, both a reference to ancestral accomplishments. The coin itself was struck at the end of the 'Social Wars' of 91-88 BC and circulated just as Sulla was entering Rome with his army. The silver quinari were first minted around 211 BC. The coins are slightly smaller than the 'Victoriti' and were valued at a half denarius. They were discontinued due to apparent unpopularity, but were revived again during the first century BC and appeared in circulation until the 3rd century AD before the coinage reforms of Diocletian.

Of course, Marcus Porcius Cato (the younger) was the great grandson of M Porcius Cato (The Censor, 234-149 BC). The younger Cato distinguished himself as an orator and prominent political figure. He was also a strong opponent of Julius Caesar whose pardon he refused by committing suicide; his half sister was the Mother of Brutus. After Cato's death, Brutus married his daughter Porica Catonis who also happened to be his first cousin....(Talk about a soap opera LOL)

Please post any coins of the type or times...

M Cato, Rome Mint 89 BC; AR Quinarius, 1.88grams, 15 mm
Head of Liber right, wearing Ivy wreath, torch below, M CATO left
Victory seated right, holding palm frond and patera, VICTRIX below
Crawford 343/2b, Sydenham 597c

 

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You could do a lot, lot worse for a cheap RR quinarius. That's a damn nice coin.

 

Great job on the low-cost capture @Mikey Zee !!! Quinarii are not as prevalent as Denarii... I happen to have one like yours, but "a little more rougher around the edges."

 

Nice coin. I've looked to get one of these, but just haven't found one within my budget. Apparently you did. Congrats

 

You may find one in the future since Agora now hosts an auction with different vendors.....in this case Holding History of e-Bay fame

 

A neat type, Mikey. Here's mine:

 

Now that's a GORGEOUS example !! WOW!!

 

Nice example, don't have one myself.

 

Nice coin (and write-up) Mikey.
Here is my (only) example of an M.Cato coin. Unattributed, and a bit worn, I am afraid.

 

I have mis-filed these under Porcia??? But are they Cato?



AND

 

No, you're correct. Porcia is the family name and how Roman Republicans were usually ordered until Sydenham or especially Crawford. Some (like you) still organize it by the family or clan.

 

Mikey-Z => congrats on scoring yourself a sweet AR Quinarius (wow, and some great additions from the fringe-group as well ... gorgeous addition, Carthago!)

Ummm, *rats* ... the only Quinarius that I have is a dirty ol' AE example from a few decades later (ummm, but do ya still kinda wanna see it?)

Allectus, AE Quinarius
293-296 AD






... yah, but it's still pretty cool, eh?

 

Topcat's two coins here demonstrates a common confusion between two similar-looking but totally different issues.

The first coin is Crawford 343/2, Rome, 89 BC, struck by M. Cato.

The second coin is Crawford 462/2, Utica (North Africa), 47-46 BC, struck by M. Porcius Cato Uticensis... the well-known Cato who was one of Julius Caesar's adversaries. His coins carry the legend PRO.PR (pro praetore) on the obverse and are quite a bit more scarce.

 

Nice coin for $40! I'd be happy with it.

 

Thanks, Cathago. I didn't know that.

 

Great information, zumbly. I really appreciate that information. Thanks.

 

Great info guys!!

I was just as confused about the two issues until I started noticing the differences on acsearch etc

And I must confess to a slight typo...my OP reference to a range left out the higher end of $50.00---- the coins actual cost with fees/shipping---- and only had my initial thought typed-...

BTW: I was the only bidder, so most (ALL?) felt it was not worth the estimate of $75.00 or the initial bid of $40.00

And, I'm still confused as to the 'moneyer' involved when the quinarius was struck (89 BC)---Cato being a child at the time (95-46 BC)...Can anyone clarify that???

 

Not the same Cato, but a relation. I've not come across any information on the M. Cato that struck your coin.

 

another coin type i don't have.

i'd absolutely take that one for a 40 spot, good call on that one MZ.

 

so.. i'm googleing to find out about this coin(i have 1 2) and POOF! this comes up. so... is this coins moneyer m cato?? and its NOT a coin attributed to m p cato the the elder?? NGC graded and encapsulated mine and referenced it to cato the elder, but im trying to find out what is what here on this piece.