I was pleased to get this Carausius, my first one of any sort, in a recent large group lot buy. I was less pleased when I couldn't attribute it, even after going through RIC, Dane's massive spreadsheet on his coins, and all the usual online databases. It measures 19.8mm and 2.4g, and has a decent enough portrait (though having looked through hundreds of his coins, I can't say I can tell official from unofficial). But then the problems start, with the obverse legend seeming to just read IMP CARAVSIVS P A. On the reverse, I'm at a loss as to which deity it is (Pax? Hilaritas?... holding cornucopia and turkey drumstick??). Annoyingly, I also cannot make head or tail of the reverse legend. I understand unofficial output in the name of Carausius was huge, so I'm going to guess this is one of them. If I'm missing something here, or if anyone has any further info on Carausius’s unofficial issues, I'd appreciate the help.
Pleasing enough coin, but at a loss to help you Z. Just looked in CNG archives (as you probably have) and no clues there.
My go-to suggestion is the CNG sale of the J.S. Vogelaar collection. https://www.cngcoins.com/Search.asp...1&SEARCH_IN_CONTAINER_TYPE_ID_4=1&VIEW_TYPE=0 I did not see yours but he had more things I have never seen elsewhere than is easy to imagine. Carausius is not a good area to collect for people with condition standards or who expect to find the coins in references. My first thought was a Pietas but that did not turn up anything either.
You might try going to acsearch.com and looking for "carausius cornucopia". I can't tell whether that's supposed to be a torch or a palm branch in her right hand, but if you can figure that out, maybe add that term, too, to help narrow it down. But I agree that the most likely explanation is that it's a barbarous imitation.
Thanks, those searches were some of what I tried without success. I've yet to find any cornucopiae-bearing goddess holding anything remotely similar in her other hand. Just for future reference, and in the event anyone stumbles on this page looking for info on Carausius, I found these pages useful: - http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Carausius (includes a list of references, some available online) - https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=157 Mauseus's extensive gallery of Carausius coins
My bet is that it's supposed to be Hilaritas holding a palm branch. There is an issue of Allectus with this reverse, including cornucopia (CNG image): So maybe the unofficial mint muled this reverse with a Carausius obverse. Very neat coin!
Hi zumbly. I don't know much, if anything, about this guy. May I suggest you google "Carausius Unofficial Coins". I did, and a number of useful replies resulted. In particular, an article by C.E. King, headed "The Unmarked Coins of Carausius", 5 pages. that should tell you as much as you'd want to know about Carausius' coins - and more !!!
Ha, so there is an example for Carausius! There's even this one on acsearch and presumably CNG (because it is a CNG coin): Z must have been looking for one more exactly like his coin (messed up legends, turkey drumstick).
Carausius - Usurper Augustus of secessionist Britain The Mints of Carausius Carausius established two Britannic mints - a primary one at London (Londinium) and one at Colchester/Camulodunum/Clausentum - "C" Mint - plus a ContinentaL mint across the Channel in Gaul These mints produced coins of distinctive style in gold, silver and bronze (mostly antoniniani). SELECTED EXAMPLE COINS: RIC V (2), Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 355: IMP C CARAVSIVS P AVG .............................................. PAX - A - VGGG | S .....P | C in reverse exergue Coin reverse legend ends in AVGGG - an attempt by Carausius to indicate that he, Diocletian and Maximian Herculius were a fraternity of co-equal Roman Emperors - not accepted by them. Draped, radiate, bust Colchester (Camulodunum/Clausentum) - "C" Mint 3.8 gm. RIC V (2), Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 475: IMP C CARAVSIVS PF AVG ......................................... PA - X - AVG | S .....P Draped, radiate, bust London Mint. 3.9 gm.
Reference: CARAUSIUS & ALLECTUS (The British Usurpers), P. J. Casey, Yale University Press, New Haven and London, (1994). (includes considerable coinage reference material. The following inexpensive book is sometimes maligned as being outdated, but it is a treasure trove of information relating to a vast number of official and unofficial Carausian coinage issues (and barbarous imitations): THE COINAGE OF ROMAN BRITAIN, Gilbert Askew, Seaby, London (1951).
Thanks, Bert, I’ve read that article, which was one of those in the link I gave above. It’s informative, and my coin is certainly an “unmarked” one, and most probably imitative. Yup, I’m leaning towards the idea that it’s supposed to be Hilaritas, but the “palm branch” and legends are so off, where in other respects the coin isn’t too far from what can pass for official. At least to my eyes, anyway, which have very little experience with Carausius, let alone unofficial. Thanks for sharing those excellent examples, James, and also for the info on the references. I think mine, whatever it is, seems to more closely resemble unmarked issues from the “uncertain mint”.
