Coin (obverse), Quinarius, of Marcus Cato

Add to album

This Roman silver coin, of a type called a quinarius, was minted in Rome by Marcus Cato in 89 BC. This picture shows the obverse of the coin.

The obverse depicts Liber, the god of vegetation, wearing an ivy wreath. He later became identified with Bacchus, the god of wine and fertility. Behind him is the legend 'M.CATO' written downwards. Below is a fibula, used as a mint control-mark.

The quinarius was issued sporadically into the early 2nd century BC. Thereafter its production lapsed, until it was revived in the early 1st century BC. It was then worth half of a denarius, the standard silver coin in use for most of Rome's history.

Record details

To search on related items, click any underlined text below.

• Online ID: 000-100-078-615-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1932.459
• Date: 89 BC
  
• Material: Silver. Inscription: Obv. Head of Liber r., wearing ivy-wreath; behind, M.CATO downwards;below, control-mark, fibula / Rev. Victory seated r., holding patera in r. hand and palm-branch inl. hand, over l. shoulder; in exergue, VICTRIX
  Coin, quinarius
  
• Dimensions: 14.00 mm D / Die Axis: 4.5
  
• What: Coin, quinarius
  
• Subject: Ancient Coin Collection
  
• Who: Cato
  Liber
  Victory
  
• Where: Italy, Rome
  
• Event:
• Description: Silver quinarius of the Roman Republic, Rome, 89 BC
  
• References:
  • Crawford, M.H. Roman Republican Coinage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1976. 
• Translations:
• Related Records: