Extremely Rare Quintus Hortensius

CNG 108, Lot: 444. Estimate $500. Sold for $500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MACEDON, Cassandrea(?). Quintus Hortensius Hortalus. Proconsul, 44-42 BC. Æ (17mm, 4.13 g, 12h). HAMM[O], horned head of Zeus-Ammon right / HORT COL • D, two grain ears. S. Kremydi-Sicilianou, “Quintus Hortensius Hortalus in Macedonia (44-42 BC),” Tekmèria 4 (1998/1999), 29 (O2/R1); RPC I 1511. Good VF, dark brown patina. Extremely rare and excellent for issue. Only five known to Kremydi-Sicilianou.

From the Belgica Collection. Ex Lanz 162 (6 June 2016), lot 64 (hammer £1000).

Son of a wealthy politician and famed orator of the same name, Quintus Hortensius was a loyal supporter of Julius Caesar and was appointed governor of Macedon by the dictator in 44 BC. Following the assassination of Caesar soon afterward, control of Macedon was sought out both by the Second Triumvirate and the Liberatores. Hortensius backed his nephew Brutus and was able to maintain the governorship of Macedon until his death at the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC.

This is one of three Macedonian issues to bear the name of Quintus Hortensius. The authors of RPC suggest that the two larger denominations should be assigned to Dium, while this smaller denomination was issued for Cassandrea (based on the two other issues, the “D” in the reverse legend does not mark the coin as belonging to the colony of Dium, but rather refers to Hortensius’ post as praefectus coloniae deducendae).