RRC 462/2 Cato Uticensis AR Quinarius

Cato Uticensis

AR Quinarius, Utica 47-46 BC

Obverse: Head of Liber, right, crowned with ivy wreath.

Script: Latin Lettering: M CATO PRO PR Translation: Marcus Cato Pro Praetor

Reverse: Winged Victory seated right, draped, holding patera in extended right hand and palm branch in left hand.

Script: Latin Lettering: VICTR

Reference: RRC 462/2, Sear 1383, BMCRR Africa 19

Mr. Crawford's estimate for this type is 50 right-hand corners and 56 reverse corners.
Cato of Utica (95-46 AC.), the descendant of Cato the Elder (234-149 AC.), in the tradition of his great-grandfather, was a republican at heart. He joined Pompey's camp after Caesar crossed the Rubicon. After Pharsalus, he took refuge in Africa at Utica, fortifying it and choosing Scipio, from an illustrious family, over Labienus, the great military commander, as leader of the Pompeian party. When Scipio was defeated at Thapsus, Cato shut himself away in Utica, preferring to commit suicide than fall alive into Caesar's hands. He thus became the model of the republican martyr and the upright Roman, who had declared that he would rather die with the Republic than live one day without it. His wish was granted. The right and reverse sides of this coin find their model in a denarius of Marcus Porcius Cato struck in 89 B.C. at the height of the Social War.

Referencia : Sear 1383

Fuente : https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces1...

Colección : I b) Roman Imperatorial Coins