I'm constantly on the lookout for Carausius' coins, but find myself passing on them when they appear most of the time because it's quite rare for the quality and cost ratio to hit my personal sweet spot. I have wanted a good long-necked portrait variety for some time also, so was pleased when I was the only bidder on this coin last week. RIC V2 475 IMP C CARAVSIVS PF AVG PAX AVG S/P//- 25x23mm, 4.44g Along with the vast majority of Carausius' coinage, this features Pax on the reverse, but overall I think it's a really well rendered coin, and other than the die break on his rather thick and long neck, and the surface roughness that I think is as much to do with corrosion as it is to do with the original state of the flan, it's in a pretty good condition and is rather nicer in the hand too. Please share your usurpers, long necks, or anything else you fancy.
Long neck coin produced by the London 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 in right hand Peripheral Inscription: PA - X - AVG | S .....P (left and right)
That's a very nice Carausius, I really like the portrait. I can share this Probus with an unnecessarily long neck. Probus, Antoninianus (23 mm, 3.65 g), Rome, 276. Radiate and cuirassed bust of Probus to r./ Rev.FIDES MILIT / XXIЄ Fides standing l., holding long scepter in her r. hand and transverse signum with her l. RIC 151 var.
Very nice “twin” Carausius to mine @thejewk - and thanks for reminding me that the personification of Pax on the reverse is supporting a scepter with her left hand. I am not sure that it is a die break on the neck of Carausius or a prominent vein on his neck depicted by this very skilled die engraver (note the nicely depicted beard).
Great long-necked portrait! Carausius often has a long neck at London, but not always: RIC 101, no field marks, ML in ex. (London) The long necks on some tetrarchal portraits have suggested to some that the Carausius die engravers continued to work in London: Constantius I as Caesar, London unmarked follis, CT 2.01.010, ex @jamesicus!
Thank you SA , good additional comment. Thank you for posting that SA - I should have never let that coin go but I am happy it found a home with you! It does appear that some of the original Carausian engravers perpetuated their long neck portrait style as they were intermingled with the Lugdunese die engravers who accompanied the Constantius invasion (of Britain) force.
Similarly, the British coin engravers often depicted the antoniniani portraits of Allectus with long necks (although not quite as pronounced?): 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 in right hand and supporting scepter with left hand. Inscription: PA - X - AVG ..... S - A, left and right, M L in reverse exergue. London mint 5.1 gm.
Thanks for the responses everyone. I am really looking forward to seeing how the new RIC volume reasons out the chronology of the coins of Carausius. Why no ML in the exergue of this substantial issue? If myself, Jamesicus and Bing each have one, and at least six of the type have sold in the last year at auction, it certainly wasn't a fluke.
I read this post with interest whilst researching a coin I was recently fortunate enough to find. I believe it to be a similar example but can anyone tell me what's happened to the reverse?
A double strike is when the coin shifts and is re-struck with the same die. An over strike is when coins are recycled and an existing coin is struck with a new die. Pax was a popular reverse, wine is limiting my ability to tell.
Fantastic coin! It's unusual to find ones that are in such nice condition, with silvering and such a clear double-strike
I never understood the long-neck fascination. In fact, I don't understand the wide-necks either. Not only does Aurelian have a long neck, it's a pencil one too: And here's my man going to the moon with his neck.
