Carus Antoninanus?

So far I have only been able to find the following information:

Carus Antoninanus, 282-283 AD Rome, IMP CARV PFAVG (?) lettering on rev. The coin is 12mm +- long width of obverse.

Reverse is: Jupiter standing holding a victory scepter, JOVI VICTORI.

I have no idea if the coin is genuine, and cannot find an exact match for it anywhere on the internet.
Can anyone help with the information I need to properly identify this coin?

Thanks,
jeankay

 

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Certainly not Carus. You're description of the reverse is wrong as well. It actually shows the Emperor sacrificing, with the legend P M TR P II COS PP. The portrait looks like Valerian, or another emperor from around there. I can't read the obverse legend, but it certainly isn't IMP CARVS PF AVG.

 

Took me a minute because it wasn't in the online references.

Valerian I
AR - antoninianus
Rome, 254 AD
IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG
Radiate, draped bust r.
PM TR P II COS PP
Emperor sacrificing r., holding baton
RIC Va 140

 

Thank You Ardatirion...

Now I can go back on the net and see if I can find the exact one.
Like I said, my knowledge is only as good as online references.

The description is the one I got from a coin that looks similar to this but not exact, however, it did give me the information that it is Roman in origin.
After several hours of searching other's collections and auction sites
I accepted this description until I could find out for certain.

This happened to be in the budgood bag I purchased awhile back.
For all I know it could be a copy or whatever, as there wasn't any information with it.
I don't really collect ancient coins yet, but this could be a start because I saw a lot on the internet that I really like.

Thanks for being here and helping with this.
jeankay

 

Don't worry, it is genuine.

 

Geez...These bags are awesome!!! I hope I can get one sometime.

 

This is the first time I checked your website Ardatirion... all I can say is WOW!
and thank you.
jeankay

 

jeankay,

Ardatirion's description is most likely correct. The obverse is so worn that the only part of the legend I can make out for sure is IMP starting on the lower left.

Just remember, the reverse can't be JOVI VICTORI because the reverse is fairly clear and those letters are not there. Rember, legends on Roman coins run together into one big, long string of letters. But, if you start looking at these regularly, you will start to recognize the letters (even though they are stylized) and you will start to recognize certain phrases that repeat themselves over and over on Roman coins such as:

IMP - Imperator
AVG - Augustus
TR P - Tribunician Potestas (has the Tribunician power)
PP - Pater Patriae (father of his country)
COS - Consul

Have fun!

 

Thank you very much. :high5:

 

After two days of searching on the internet I finally nailed it... I think.
At ancientcoins.com I was able to find a photograph of a coin just like the one I posted.
Hopefully it will be okay to paraphrase their description:
(obv) Valerianvs facing right, I MP C P LIC Valerianus Avg.
(rev) Valerian standing left, sacrificing over an altar.
Mint of Viminacium (Moesia) RC208 COHEN 159a.

The best part of this indentification is the fact that the person who gave me the best clues, Ardatirion, did not tell me exactly where I could find the picture. This meant I had to do the research myself and, in turn, learn more about the history of the Emporer Valerianvs than I would have otherwise.

My thanks to tcore for goading me on with more information.. nothing like a challenge to get one thinking.

Moral of this story... do not be afraid to post a picture, ask questions, and get some answers. Not everyone can be an expert in all fields of coin collecting. Some of us are just plain amateur experts in the making, and we have a lot of questions that need answers and we should definitely take advantage of the experts who are willing to help guide us to discover the answers.

Thank You,
jeankay

P.S. I ordered a book about Roman coins so would have some reference material to check.

 

Jeankay, what's making you think its from the Viminacium mint?

 

Ouch! You got me on that one.
Now I gotta check some more.
So far that is the only coin I have found which has the same pictures on both sides and the proper inscription on the reverse.
I suppose it is possible Valerian I had more than one with the same depictions?
You sure are a taskmaster...
jeankay

 

Don't worry, its a tough one.

If I'm reading my copy of RIC V correct, there are two entries that should match your coin. 140, the one I cited earlier from the mint of Rome, and 208, the one from Viminacium that you cited. The legends (which DO fit yours, if you count the letters) and the designs are identical. There are undoubtedly stylistic differences between the two mints, but I not familiar with them. Neither do I know where to find an image of the Rome one to compare to the Viminacium one.

You're in a pickle.

 

Valerian I coin

Okay all you purists out there... someone is going to reach out and :hammer:
me on the noggin for this one.

Just remember, the chalk I used is tailors chalk and will come off with plain water... yeh, I know, but if this coin was buried in the ground for centuries you can't say it hasn't felt the touch of water and other unmentionable liquids.
Can anyone identify the lettering on this coin with these pictures?

jeankay

 

This one is listed as Rome Mint...whether it is or not I cant confirm.

 

IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG

Thats actually a pretty good idea. Good thinking!

 

Compare the portraits of the Rome mint (top) with the Viminacium mint (bottom). I'd say yours is from Rome.

 

ancientcoins.ca/hoard19f.html

It is the 33rd coin down under the Valerianus Senior heading

I am still not quite certain how to add website addresses to a post, so this is the best I can do for now.

jeankay

 

Hi Drusus,
Comparing my actual unhighlighted coin I can see these main things that appear more like the Viminacium minted coin:

Obv: longer spikes on 'crown' with 3rd from top pointing to the L, hooked nose, and longer mouth, drape is gathered on shoulder instead of being loose.

Rev: head is longer and more elongated or thinner, scepter or baton is pointed at the first D and not between them, and the letters are shaped differently.

Don't know for sure as this is only my third day of learning and I do not have any reference books at my disposal, you CT'rs and the websites I have visited.

Check out the web address I posted a few minutes ago and find the coin as described.

Okay... how is it going so far?
jeankay

 

I think the portrait looks like that of the coin in Drusus' post (Rome mint) and that of the second coin (Viminacium mint) in Ardatirion's post. So, hmmm??? Also, you will no doubt notice that jeankay's coin has the figure on the reverse facing left. I don't know if that matters in this particular attribution or not. Good work all.

Also, jeankay, you made about 2 or 3 people just have a heart attack with your blue chalk.

Ardatirion, do you have all volumes of RIC or just select volumes?

Also jean, to post a link, just select the word in your post that you want to make into a link, then press the button at the top of the edit window that looks like a globe with a little thing in front of it, then put the URL in the blank. Your highlighted word will now be a link.