Budget purchases: Carinus and Numerian

As i spent all my money on next year's travel, I have only been buying affordable upgrades to my portrait series of emperors. This morning, I acquired this pair at a reasonable price:


I haven't properly attributed them yet - I really bought the pair for the Numerian bust which I think is pretty cool. Both are better than what I already have for these emperors (I have some cool coins for emperors up until the 280s, after that I need better pieces).
If there's anything you know of interest about these pieces, let me know.

Post your cool late 3rd century pieces

 

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Those are both great, love the Carinus.


Carinus (283 - 285 A.D.)
Æ(S) Antoninianus
O: IMP CARINVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right.
R: AETERNIT AVGG, Aeternitas standing left, holding phoenix on globe, lifting hem of robe with left hand. KAΓ in ex.
Rome Mint. 284 - 285 A.D.
22 mm
3.8 g
RIC 248

Glossy...


Numerian (283 - 284 A.D.)
Æ Antoninianus
O: IMP NVMERIANVS AVG, radiate, draped bust right.
R: VNDIQVE VICTORES, Numerian standing left, holding globe and sceptre, captive on each side.
Rome mint
22mm
4.07g
RIC 423, Cohen 120

An important reverse type fallaciously
claiming 'victories on Every Side'.

 

Excellent upgrades Greg, but the Numerian portrait is wonderful.

 

I love the first one, the Carinus, with the pottery on the reverse. Great purchase!

You asked to see our late third century coinage. I don't have any late 3rd century Romans yet, but I do have one that is "close enough". A Phillip II from probably around 248 CE. Well, what I actually mean is that I shall have it as soon as the mail delivers it.

I love the fact that it isn't "shinny"...with all the encrustation and overly thick patina still remaining. It could easily be cleaned further to reveal more detail...but why would anyone want to do that when it already reveals plenty of beauty as is. I find it very alluring the way it is....and that phat dolphin...oh my!

Legal Disclaimer: Photo courtesy of JA, under Fair Use for non-profit educational purposes.

 

Love the OP!!!!........ and the subsequent posts!!!

My examples require upgrades and better photos....at least the Numerian.

Carinus and Numerian:

 

Forgot to mention my Carinus has a Missing "I" on the reverse, engraver's error.

I tend to copy/paste old posts of mine and it wasn't discovered till later.

 

I'm starting to move from seeking coins in the highest grade possible, to instead seeking coins the have something special that makes them stand out, such as patina, toning, something specially attractive about the particular die used. I think the fact that your coin has the missing letter due to an engraver's error makes it particularly charming. Makes you wonder what kind of a day the engraver was having to mess up in that way, and whether his supervisors ever caught on to the error.

 

Nice!

 

I reallly like the OP pair neither of which are the common Virtus reverse. I'll show a third coin to keep father Carus from feeling slighted.

Carus


Numerian


Carinus


I always like the Carus here because of the perfect surfaces with no trace of silvering. More coins of this period are patchy looking or rough but this one lost or was stripped of its plating quite pleasantly.

 

Doug's Carus piece does a really nice job of showing him going bald. Not many emperors admitted to thinning hair!

 

Hmmm, I didn't notice that...or perhaps I'm 'trained' for denial, since my hairline has already receded to the back of my head LOL

 

Julius Caesar was bald too, wasn't he?

Yes, Doug's Carus piece is really cool.

 

Nothing some of Dr. Sallent's Scalp Snake Oil Treatment won't cure. Step right up, only one denarius per bottle. Get it while you still can!

 

Mine's pretty bald too.

Carus (282- 285 A.D.)
Ӕ Antoninianus
O: IMP C M AVR CARVS P F AVG; Radiate and cuirassed bust right.
R: VIRTVS AVGG; Soldier standing left, leaning on shield and holding spear. In ex. ΓKA
Rome Mint
23mm
3.7g
RIC V(b) Rome 45

 

This Divus Carus shows the hairline behind the first point of the crown. A coin has to have pretty good surfaces to tell the difference between light roughness and thin hair.

 

both very nice, i love the carinus with the implements.

i did check a coin of numerian off my list this year...

 

Both very nice, Greg. IMHO, the Carus to get is the 'double bald eagle' type...

 

Yeah, I've been looking for such a Carus. Double bald eagle is the one I need. With nice slick silvering.

I do have a Carus (emperor receiving Victory type), but it's rubbish that I bought at a time when all that mattered was getting one of every emperor. The only emperors I don't have start at $1k+. So in these tight times my focus is affordable upgrades to my current emperors.

 

My lone carus coin was struck at Ticinum:

CARUS
Antoninianus
OBVERSE: IMP CARVS P F AVG, radiate, cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: PAX EXERCITI, Pax standing left holding standard & olive branch, PXXI in ex.(1. officina)
Struck at Ticinum (1. officina), 282-3 AD
3.7g, 22mm
RIC 75f, C 56

And my best Numerian hails from Lugdunum:

NUMERIAN
Antoninianus
OBVERSE: M AVR NVMERIANVS NOB C, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: MARS VICTOR, Mars advancing right with spear & trophy, C to right
Struck at Lugdunum, 284 AD
3.5g, 22.5mm
RIC 353c