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 produced in Britain by the London (Londinium) mint. Carausius, Antoninianus, RIC V (2), No. 475: Obverse depiction: draped, radiate, bust. Inscription: IMP C CARAVSIVS PF AVG Reverse depiction: Pax standing left, holding olive branch Inscription: PA - X - AVG | S .....P 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. Allectus, Antoninianus, RIC V (2), No. 33: Obverse depiction: cuirassed, radiate bust. Inscription: IMP C ALLECTVS P F AVG Reverse depiction: Pax standing left, holding olive branch. Inscription: PA - X - AVG ..... S - A, M L in reverse exergue. London mint 5.1 gm. Allectus died in battle with the invading force of Constantius in southern Britain. CONSTANTIUS AND HIS SON CONSTANTINE: In AD 296 Constantius, then Caesar of the West, invaded secessionist Britain and restored it to the Empire as directed by Maximian Herculius, Augustus of the West. RIC Volume VI, Lugdunum, follis, No. 17a, Constantius, Caesar of the West: Obverse depiction: truncated bare neck bust, laureate, facing right. Inscription: FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB C Reverse depiction: Genius of the Roman people, standing. Inscription: GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI Earliest obverse legend 10.1 gm. Britannia invasion coinage produced in Gaul at unknown Continental mint Constantius campaigned in Britain as both Caesar and Augustus - the only Imperator to do so.
This is an example (the reverse of which is my CT avatar) of a bronze copy of the famous, unique, ten aurei multiple (RIC VOLUME VI, TREVERI, No. 34) coin/medallion, the original of which presently resides in the museum at Arras and that commemorates the restoration of secessionist Britain to the Roman Empire by Constantius in 296. The reverse depicts the personification of Londinium (LON) kneeling and supplicating to Constantius (on horseback) outside of the City Fortification while a galley with Roman soldiers waits on the river Thames. The inscription REDDITOR LVCIS AETERNAE proclaims Constantius as the restorer of the eternal light (of Rome). Obverse inscription: FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOBIL CAES Reverse inscription: REDDITOR LVCIS AETERNAE LON (lower right) - PTR (exergue) Bastien records the original (unique) as No. 218 in his book on the Arras Hoard and mentions that galvano copies were made and sold by the Paris coin dealer Bourgey. At a weight of 23.0 grams I think the copy depicted here was cast in bronze from one of those galvano copies. There appears to be numerous other copies in circulation in a variety of metals - brass/bronze, silver, gilded copper, etc. Roman Gold medallions have a monetary value far above that of the usual collector “rarity” assessment or gold content because of their tremendous historical association. Some - like this Constantius medallion - might be priceless. Note that these particular aurei multiple issues are all cataloged as such in RIC, volume VI, Treveri (Trier) mint.
Fantastic, James! Well done. Thanks for the snippets of History, too. Bummer, I do not have any of the LONG-NECK variety... CARAUSIUS RI Carausius usurper in Britain CE 287–293 BI Ant 4.7g 24mm London radiate cuirassed - PAX AVG Pax stndg l branch scepter S—P RIC V 475 ALLECTUS RI Allectus 293-296 AE Quinarius London Virtus Galley AE17 2-3g S 13870 RIC 55 CONSTANTIUS RI Constantius I Chlorus 293-306 CE DIVO AE Quinarius Thesalonika 317-318 Seated RIC VII 25 R5 R CONSTANTINE RI Constantine I AVG Follis Votive XX seated captives 2.69g 18mm RIC VII 191 London
Well, Brian, as usual your post was super and your coin images excellent. But I am irritated with myself for not recognizing the significance of the “long neck” beer bottles! Of course, they represent the long neck portraits which populate the Carausius/Allectus coinage! And as much as we have discussed this in the past! I am losing it Brian - I need to gather what wits I have left and get with the program!!!
Great post @jamesicus thank you for sharing and increasing my envy levels tenfold! One of my 2021 goals is to purchase a London Mint coin so naturally I am drooling at the ones posted here.
If the rumors I hear are true, the next RIC volume, coming out later this year, is the one on Carausius and Allectus by Sam Moorehead. SC
