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Message:: [QUOTE="jamesicus, post: 2851685, member: 14873"]Not a dumb question at all -- actually a very fair one. I will provide a two -part answer: Part 1 RIC V (2), London, Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 475 <img src="http://jp29.org/5475o.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> <img src="http://jp29.org/5475r.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />CARAUSIUS 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 his own mints at London (Londinium) and Colchester (Camulodunum - Clausentum) -- "C" Mint -- and across the Channel in Gaul which began to produce coins of distinctive style in gold, silver and bronze. Carausius attempted to assert his equality with the legitimate Dyarchal Augusti, Diocletian and Maximian Herculius (not accepted by them), by issuing a series of Antoniniani (some in their names) which included the titulature AVGGG (the three Augusti: Diocletian, Maximian Herculius and Carausius) as part of the reverse legend. RIC V (2), London, Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 335 <img src="http://jp29.org/5335o.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> <img src="http://jp29.org/5335r.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />IMP C CARAVSIVS P AVG ......................................... PAX AVGGG | S .....P | C RIC V (2), London, Carausius, Antoninianus. No. 5 <img src="http://jp29.org/55o.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> <img src="http://jp29.org/55r.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />IMP C DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG ........................ PAX AVGGG | S .....P | MLXXI RIC V (2), London, Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 34 <img src="http://jp29.org/534o.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> <img src="http://jp29.org/534r.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG ........................ PAX AVGGG | S .....P | MLXXI[/QUOTE]

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