Allectus Aureus Discovered

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Al Kowsky, Apr 5, 2019.

  1. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    Last edited: Apr 5, 2019
    Theodosius, Clavdivs, Sardar and 20 others like this.
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  3. Ocatarinetabellatchitchix

    Ocatarinetabellatchitchix Well-Known Member

    Wow! Fantastic discovery. Thank for sharing @Al Kowsky . And by the way, in 2016, 16043 new Roman coins were discovered (and declared) in UK....nobody here will complain about that...
     
  4. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 Well-Known Member

    I wonder if it is a die match to the BM coin.
     
  5. maridvnvm

    maridvnvm Well-Known Member

    I think it is.... here is the BM example

    [​IMG]
     
  6. kazuma78

    kazuma78 Supporter! Supporter

    Wow, that's amazing. I bet it brings a hefty sum.
     
  7. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Wow! Dig that Sol Invictus!
     
  8. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Very cool, thanks for the article link and sharing.
     
  9. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    The article says the reverse is Apollo. Technically it is Sol. Nice find for the guy with the metal detector.
     
  10. Carausius

    Carausius Brother, can you spare a sestertius?

    Fantastic find. Though it's amazing to me how little the Daily Mail knows of British history. Carausius was the first Brexiteer, in 286 CE! Allectus was his successor.
     
  11. Finn235

    Finn235 Well-Known Member

    If this is the second gold Allectus, and the only coming up for auction, I'd bet it will go for a LOT more than £100k
     
    kazuma78 likes this.
  12. AncientJoe

    AncientJoe Well-Known Member

    That image is from DNW - I wonder if this coin will be coming up for sale soon? It's an amazing find!
     
  13. Julius Germanicus

    Julius Germanicus Well-Known Member

    The Daily Mail article is a crass exaggeration. According to Andrew Burnett (who alone examines 24 specimens in his paper "The Coinage of Allectus", 1984)
    "a surprising number of (Allectus´) Aurei have survived, and new ones regularly come to light, two for instance having been found at Bath during the last five years. The total is greater than that which survives for Carausius´reign of two or three times as many years."

    And if there was an original Brexiteer, it certainly was Carausius :)
     
  14. jamesicus

    jamesicus Well-Known Member

    What an incredible find!

    The usurper Augusti of secessionist Britain - Carausius & Allectus

    The political and military turmoil of the third century spawned numerous external assaults on the Roman Empire. One of these was the incessant seafaring piracy in the waters surrounding the Roman occupied island outpost of Britain. In 286 Maximian Herculius, in his capacity as Dyarch Augustus of the West, designated a highly regarded military commander named Marcus Aurelius Mausaeus Carausius, of Flemish descent, to head a fleet of ships who's mission was to eliminate, or at least severely curtail, this piracy. Carausius had distinguished himself by outstanding leadership and military prowess, especially as a naval "Admiral", in the Gallic campaigns. Carausius established his operational base at the coastal city of Boulogne (Gesoriacum) in Roman occupied northern Gaul. Carausius did indeed accomplish his mission, but reports of corruption and extortion led Maximian Herculius to dispatch a fleet of ships in order to remove Carausius from command. However, Carausius proved too strong and he repulsed the attack.

    Carausius subsequently used his continental base to launch an invasion force to occupy and subjugate Britain. Landing in the north, Carausius secured the support of the native Picts and, advancing south, confronted and defeated the forces of the Roman Governor. Having thus conquered the Island, he proclaimed himself Augustus of a Secessionist Britain, becoming an effective and efficient Administrator using the Roman Imperial governmental framework as a model. He maintained control of Boulogne and coastal northern Gaul. Carausius established two mints in Britain: one at London (Londinium) and the other at Colchester (Camulodunum - Clausentum) and a Continental mint in Gaul.

    The coins depicted here were minted in Britain at the London (Londinium) mint.

    RIC V (2), Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 475:

    [​IMG][​IMG]
    IMP C CARAVSIVS PF AVG ............................................... PA - X - AVG | S .....P

    Draped, radiate, bust
    London Mint.
    3.9 gm.

    Allectus, the chief minister of Carausius, assassinated him (or orchestrated his assassination) in AD 293. He continued operation of the British Carausian mints and coins were issued in his name and bearing his portrait

    RIC V (2), Allectus, Antoninianus, No. 33:

    [​IMG][​IMG]
    IMP C ALLECTVS P F AVG .................................. PA - X - AVG ..... S (Pax standing left) A
    M L in reverse exergue.

    Cuirassed, radiate, bust
    London mint
    5.1 gm.
    Allectus died in battle with the invading force of Constantius in southern Britain AD 296
     
  15. Ocatarinetabellatchitchix

    Ocatarinetabellatchitchix Well-Known Member

    He guys...just a thought....we are 50000 members here on CT. If each of us put a little 3$...we can buy this coin and have it one day alternately....every 130 years....! Who’s with me ?
     
    Theodosius, dlhill132, R*L and 6 others like this.
  16. Gavin Richardson

    Gavin Richardson Well-Known Member

    I am in, as long as my day comes in the next quarter century. I’m being optimistic.
     
    Cucumbor and kazuma78 like this.
  17. Carausius

    Carausius Brother, can you spare a sestertius?

    Ownership shares in coins has been tried before, as an investment vehicle. Just look for a copy of Sotheby's "Athena Fund" auction sale, and you'll see how well it turned-out!
     
  18. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    If you want a coin of Allectus but not in gold, you can get a nice galley:

    AllectusVIRTVSAVG800.jpg
    20 mm. 2.96 grams.
    IMP C ALLECTVS PF AVG
    Radiate, cuirassed bust right.
    Galley, VIRTVS AVG
    Q C in exergue.
    Some have thought the "Q" indicates it is a "quinarius." It is smaller than his usual radiate, which many call an "antoninianus," so Sear calls it a "half antoninianus or quinarius".
    RIC 128F. Sear IV 13874.

    The cost would be 1/10 of 1% of what the gold piece will sell for.
     
  19. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    Aw, geez, man. You should've put a warning in the title. I wandered in here and looked at that first post and had my eyes seared by that thing. :greedy:
     
    Theodosius likes this.
  20. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    I know what you mean, sun glasses would help :cool:! The coin is a real blazer :eek: & the photos impeccable :D.
     
    lordmarcovan likes this.
  21. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

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