Roman Republic: M. Porcius Cato Uticensis, AR Quinarius, Utica mint, 47-46 BC

Roman Republic: M. Porcius Cato Uticensis (Cato the Younger/Stoic), AR Quinarius, Utica (in Tuinicia) mint, 47-46 BC, Sear 1383, RRC 462/2, CRI 47, BMCRR Africa 19, RSC Porcia 11, ex Prof. Dr. Hildebrecht Hommel and Auction Dorotheum 308, 1969, lot 167 (1.58 g)

I grudge him his death, for he would not allow me to let him live!
(Julius Caesar, upon hearing the news of Cato's suicide)

The great-grandson of the celebrated Cato the Censor (234-149 BC), Cato Uticensis was born in 95 BC. He volunteered for the campaign against Spartacus in 72 BC and later refused an official commendation for his part in the campaign. After serving his military tribuneship in Macedonia, Cato returned to Rome and was elected Quaestor.

A bitter and lifelong enemy of Julius Caesar, whom he considered a threat to the Republic, Cato reluctantly joined the Pompeian camp when the civil war broke out in 49 BC. The respect he commanded among his contemporaries enabled him to arbitrate in the disputes that arose between the various Pompeian military leaders in North Africa in 47-46 BC. Unfortunately, he insisted on bestowing the overall command of the Pompeian forces to Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio, on the basis of his illustrious name rather than merit. Scipio's incompetence as a military commander cost the Pompeians dearly.

Following Caesar's victory at the battle of Pharsalus, Cato initially secured the defenses of Utica. However, when defeat became imminent, he followed his Stoic doctrine and opted for suicide, falling upon his sword in his private apartments. His companions tried to bandage his wounds, but he tore them open and died. Caesar was furious upon hearing the news, realizing that Cato was far more dangerous as a martyr than as a living opponent.

Cato chose to die with the Republic than to outlive it, and was still revered as one of the greatest Roman patriots of all time generations after its fall.
(Adapted from Chronicle of the Roman Republic by Philip Matyszak)

Obverse: M CATO PRO PR (AT in monogram). Head of young Bacchus or Liber right, wreathed with ivy

Reverse: VICTRI(X) (TR in monogram), Victory seated right, holding patera and palm

 

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A wonderful and historically significant coin. One I rarely see in such nice condition.

 

So that's what those look like! Lovely.

Mine is so wretched it is hard to see what it is - but it is historical, if nothing else:



Marcus Porcius Cato
Uticensis
(47-46 B.C.) - Africa mint
M • CATO • PRO • PR, wreathed head of Liber right / [VICTRIX], Victory seated right, holding patera.
Porcia 11; Crawford 462/2.
(1.53 grams / 14 mm)

"In stark contrast with Scipio, coinage of Porcius Cato virtually ignores the African realities of war against Caesar. His denarius and quinarius issues, depicting, Roma/Libertas and Liber on the obverse and the same seated Victory on the reverse (Cr. 462/1,2) represent a revival of earlier, almost identical, issues by another M. Porcius Cato, moneyer of 89 B.C....If Scipio presents a Rome willing to adapt, Cato presents the illusion of a Rome utterlyRepublican and utterly unchanged."
Gabriela Vlahovici-Jones

 

My Quinarius from a relative (likely NOT a direct ancestor) of your moneyer:



Rome, The Republic.
M. Porcius Cato, 89 BCE.
AR Quinarius (2.08g; 14mm).
Rome Mint.

Obverse: M.CATO; Liber head facing right wearing ivy wreath; rudder (control mark) below.

Reverse: VICTRIX; Victory seated left, holding patera in outstretched hand and palm over left shoulder.

References: Crawford 343/2b; Sydenham 597c; BMCRR (Italy) 677-93var (symbol); Porcia 7.

Provenance: Ex Elsen 141 (15 Jun 2019) Lot 152; Elsen List 60 (Oct 1983), Lot 37.

Per Crawford, a shrine to Victoria Virgo was built by Cato Censorinus, and the seated Victory may represent the statue at the shrine.

 

Amit's example is unusually nice – these often seem to come in a wretched state of preservation. My own Cato Uticensis quinarius resembles that of @Marsyas Mike. The very similar coins of his ancestor, though, commonly appear on the market in good condition:


Roman Republic, struck by Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis, AR quinarius, 47–46 BC, mint in Africa, probably Utica. Obv: Head of Liber r., wearing ivy-wreath; below, M CATO PRO PR. Rev: Victory seated r., holding patera hand and palm-branch; in exergue, [VICTRIX]. 14mm, 1.39g. Ref: RRC 462/2.


Roman Republic, moneyer: M. Cato, AR quinarius, 89 BC, Rome mint. Obv: M CATO; head of Liber r., wearing ivy-wreath; below, control mark (torch?). Rev: VICTRIX; Victory seated r., holding patera in r. hand and palm-branch over l. shoulder. 14mm, 2.12g. Ref: RRC 343/2b.

 

I want your issue. I regret that I do not have one, since I enjoy Quinarii and the Cato's, especially.

Here are some Cato relatives' coins:


RR AR Quinarius 89 BCE M Porcius Cato Liber Bacchus - Victory- Crawford 343-2. Sear 248



RR Porcius Cato 123 BCE AR Denarius Roma X Victory Biga S 149 Cr 274-1


My "WILDMAN" Cato Quinarius


RR Porcius Cato AR Quinarius 89 BCE Bacchus Liber Victory seated S 248 Cr 343-2

 

Spectaculair coin, congratulations!