Reply to Thread

Message:: [QUOTE="jamesicus, post: 3147010, member: 14873"]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 - Usurper Augustus of Secessionist Britain 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. The Mints of Carausius Carausius established two Britannic mints - a primary one at London (Londinium) and one at Colchester/Camulodunum/Clausentum - "C" Mint - plus a ContinentaL mint across the Channel in Gaul These mints produced coins of distinctive style in gold, silver and bronze (mostly antoniniani). SELECTED EXAMPLE COINS: RIC V (2), Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 355: <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 - A - VGGG | S .....P |C in reverse exergue Coin reverse legend ends in AVGGG - an attempt by Carausius to indicate that he, Diocletian and Maximian Heculius were a fraternity of co-equal Roman Emperors - not accepted by them.Draped, radiate, bustColchester (Camulodunum/Clausentum) - "C" Mint3.8 gm. RIC V (2), 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" />IMP C CARAVSIVS PF AVG ......................................... PA - X - AVG | S .....P Draped, radiate, bustLondon Mint.3.9 gm. Allectus - Successor Usurper Augustus of Secessionist Britain In AD 293, Allectus, the chief (finance?) minister of Carausius, assassinated him (or orchestrated his assassination) and proclaimed himself Augustus of Secessionist Britain. He continued to operate the British Carausian mints but added a new AE denomination: Quinarius (half antoninianus) which was a copper coin of reduced size bearing the letter Q in the exergue, which has been interpreted to mean Quinarius (half antoninianus). SELECTED EXAMPLE COINS: RIC V (2), Allectus, Antoninianus, No. 33: <img src="http://jp29.org/533o.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /><img src="http://jp29.org/533r.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />IMP C ALLECTVS P F AVG ............................. PA - X - AVG ..... S (Pax standing left) AM L in reverse exergue. Cuirassed, radiate, bustLondon mint5.1 gm. RIC V (2), Allectus, Quinarius, No. 55: <img src="http://jp29.org/000allectusy.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />IMP C ALLECTVS P F AVG ............................. VIRTVS AVG ..... (Galley)Q L in reverse exergue. Allectus "Q" coin issue - The reverse depicts a Roman galley - symbolic of the dominant sea power emphasized by the Usurper Augusti.Cuirassed, radiate, bustLondon Mint.2.8 gm.[/QUOTE]

Create my FREE Account!

Log in or Sign up

Reply to Thread

Useful Searches