NumisBids
  
Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 94  24 Feb 2022
View prices realized

Lot 573

Estimate: 400 GBP
Price realized: 550 GBP
Find similar lots
Share this lot: Share by Email
Q. Hortensius Hortalus, Proconsul of Macedonia, Æ 23mm of Cassandrea or Dium, Macedon. Circa 43-42 BC. Q HORT[ENSI PRO • COS], bare head of Hortensius to right / PRAEF C[OLONI] • DEDVC, ox yoke, plough and measuring rod (?) with vexillum. S. Kremydi-Sicilianou, The Coinage of the Roman Colony of Dion, Biblioteca 4 of the Hellenic Numismatic Society, Athens 1996, p. 257, 1-8 and pl. 32; RPC I 1509. 16.20g, 23mm, 9h.

Good Fine. Extremely Rare.

A son of the famous orator of the same name, Quintus Hortensius was appointed proconsul of Macedonia by Caesar in January 44 BC. Caesar was assassinated in March, and a few months later, just as Hortensius was about to retire, the Civil War broke out and he went over to Brutus and the Republican party with the offer of military help. The Senate was obliged to accept Brutus once again as proconsul, but after the battle of Philippi in 42 BC Hortensius was executed.

During his stay in Macedonia Hortensius struck an issue of bronze coins in three denominations, and the coins confirm that he was appointed 'praefectus coloniae deducendae' of a military colony the name of which is not mentioned - it was either at port of Kassanderia (Cassandreia) or the ancient shrine of Dion (Dium) in Macedonia where several examples have been found in official excavations and published by Kremydi-Sicilianou, op. cit., pp. 285-6.
Question about this auction? Contact Roma Numismatics Ltd