I recently bought a mixed lot of coins and amongst then was the following Antoninianus of Carausius. I had originally attributed it as RIC V-2, London 101 but comparing my coin to others I could not conclude that my attribution was correct. My thoughts were around the poor form of the obverse legend, the possibilities with regards to the reverse field marks and queries around the style comparison between my example and known examples of the type. I also had a query around that the coin is either double struck or potentially an overstrike. Denomination - Antoninianus Obv: IMP CIIRIIIISIIIS P F IIVG for IMP CARAVSIVS PF AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right Rev: PAX AVG, Pax standing left, holding olive-branch and vertical sceptre Likely an irregular / barbarous issue in good style, F-O//[ML or possibly C] . A.D. 287-293 Reference:– cf. RIC V-2, London 101 or similar 3.03 gms, 180 degree die orientation, Maximum diameter 23.48 mm I posted the coin elsewhere and had a response from "Mauseus" who is a recognised expert in this field and he responded as follows:- "Can I first say nice coin and interesting bust with the decorated cuirass over the shoulder, somewhat similar to trabaea decoration. I think your coin is irregular, given the style of the lettering and die cutting, although the bust detailing is good. By the time you get to the F/O//ML marks, and this is what I anticipate yours is (F/O//C is extremely unusual) the London mint was quite competent in style and, although lettering is still a little blocky the letter forms are recognisable, something not evident on the obverse of your coin. For example, all the A letters are unbarred. Having said all that, I could be almost swayed to official but poorer style." I thought it was an interesting coin worthy of sharing...
I really like the portrait on it and Mauseus explained why, different. It's definitely better than the usual ones, like mine. Carausius (287 - 293 A.D.) Æ Antoninianus O: IMP C CARAVSIVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: PAX AVG, Pax standing left, holding olive-branch and sceptre; S in left field; P in right field. Camulodunum(?) Mint 4.53g 23mm RIC 475
If it wasn't for the FO in the fields I would have been tempted on style to suggest it was a very early issue, but I think the FO confirms it as an unofficial but very interesting coin. Nice! I also always enjoy legends that degenerate into IIIIII at points, so it scores even more point for me.
I have this carausius VIRTVS reverse (I think - the letters are all up and down so the letters look like IIIIII half the time). Sorry for the terrible pic. I need to reshoot this one of these days. I had originally put this down as an imitation, but boy if that bust doesn't look pretty dang pretty....
This is a very desirable coin Martin, with a super sharp obverse. And as you said before, the lettering makes me also hesitate to classify it as an official one. He’s also an expert about the Gallic rulers. And if anyone here want to learn something new, please take a look at this site from Mauseus: http://mauseus.blogspot.com/
I have an unusual PAX type. There are no mint or field marks whatsoever. Pax holds an olive branch and a cornucopiae. It is unlisted in RIC and Sear. The reverse type is the mirror image of RIC 927. Carausius, AD 286-293. Roman billon antoninianus, 2.91 g, 21.2 mm, 3 h. Uncertain British mint. Obv: IMP CARAVSIVS P F AVG, radiate (draped and cuirassed?) bust, right. Rev: PAX AVG, Pax standing left, holding olive branch and cornucopiae. Refs: RIC --; RCV --. I corresponded with Sam Moorhead of the British Museum and who is working on an update to RIC on these issues. He kindly replied: Dear [Roman Collector], I hope you are as well as can be possible at the moment. This coin is probably irregular, but I am including such pieces in an ‘Aberrant Type’ section because the line between official and irregular gets really blurred with Carausius. There are numerous types with PAX AVG which are not the standard branch and sceptre types. It is the tenth specimen I have recorded of such a piece. There were two in the Blackmoor Hoard (20440-1) and the BM, Ashmolean and Fitzwilliam all have examples, so yours is in good company! I hope that this helps a bit. Thank you so much for sending the image. I have stored it away safely for comparison when I sweep through the plates for the catalogue. Covid and Lockdown has set me back a bit, but I am up and running again, hoping to complete the RIC next year. Best wishes, Sam Dr Sam Moorhead Portable Antiquities and Treasure British Museum
Just another: I always wanted a Continental mint Carausius but am not clear on how to tell them from British mints with no mark or 'unofficial'. This Virtus seems to share the open top A style (actually H) but has closed bottom V.
22.33 mm 3.55 gm, I cannot discern the mintmark it looks like a single "X" to me and I cannot find it in Sear.
This is one that I can attribute! Carausius, 287-293 Antoninianus Londinium circa 290-292, billon 22mm., 3.08g. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. Pax, draped standing l., holding olive-branch in r. hand and vertical sceptre in l. hand. C 215. RIC 99. Ex- Navilles 07/27/2019.
Bronze Coin (AE Antoninianus) minted during the reign of CARAUSIUS between 287 - 293 A.D. Obv. IMP.C.CARAVSIVS.P.F.AVG.: rad., dr. & cuir. bust r. Rev. PAX.AVG.: Pax stg. l., holding olive-branch & vertical sceptre, in field SP. RCS #3579. RICV #475 pg.504. DVM #24.
36246. Bronze antoninianus, RIC V, part 2, 529, gF, soft strike, "S C" mint, weight 4.243g, maximum diameter 24mm, die axis 180o, obverse IMP C CARAVSIVS PF AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right; reverse VIRTVS AVG, Virtus standing right, spear vertical in left, right rests on grounded shield, S - C across fields; ex Forum
I am fairly sure that there is no mint mark on this one, just some incrustations. The 'floor' beneath Victory's feet is almost touching the dotted border, leaving no space, and I see no letters in the fields. GK Askew's book The Coinage of Roman Britain lists your coin as number 200, Victory advancing right with wreath and palm; sometimes with a captive at her feet. No captive on your one that I can see. It references RIC 175-176, and the description matches your obverse legend and bust type, but on OCRE it gives the mint mark as S/P//ML. I would give it the reference RIC 175 (var.) and note that your example is without a mint mark, which is not at all unusual with Carausius coins in my experience. Wonderful coin!
Unrecorded IMP CARAVSIVS PF AVG - Radiate, cuirassed and draped bust right, holding a spear over shoulder in right hand, shield in left hand MONETA AVG - Moneta standing left holding cornucopia and scales No mint mark 3.29g, 21mm Purchased from detectorist, found in Narborough, Norfolk in 2019 My favourite Carausius coin so far, confirmed by Sam Moorhead as a unique example with a very rare bust type. One of my favourite coins. RIC V2 475 IMP C CARAVSIVS PF AVG PAX AVG S/P//- 25x23mm, 4.44g My long necked Carausius.
Thank you so much @thejewk that is very helpful. I don't have Askew's book although I should given my interests. In Sam Moorhead's "A history of Roman Coins in Britain", figure 25 in his chapter on Carausius is similar to mine.
Thanks for sharing @maridvnvm The only Carausius in my collection followed by its predecessor that I no longer have Carausius, antoninianus - Colchester mint ? IMP CARAVSIVS P F AVG, radiate bust right MONITA (sic) AVG, Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopia 3,64 gr Ref : RCV # 13629v, Cohen # 178 var, RIC, cf #867 Carausius, antoninianus IMP CARAVSIVS PF AVG, Radiate and cuirassed bust of Carausius right PAX AVG, Pax standing left, holding spear and branch 4,44 gr Ref : RC #3580, Cohen #219 Q
