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Message:: [QUOTE="jamesicus, post: 2910150, member: 14873"]This is one of the "long neck" Carausian antoniniani produced at the London Mint. I bought this coin several years ago but I can’t remember when and who I purchased it from. In any event, it is one of the nicest Carausian coins I own - not outstanding condition, but with pretty nice surfaces and readable legends. 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" />IMP C CARAVSIVS PF AVG ........................................ PAX AVG - S (Pax) PObverse: Bust of Carausius drapedReverse: Personification of Pax standing left, holding olive branch and sceptre 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” Mints), and across the Channel in Gaul, which began to produce coins of distinctive style in gold, silver and bronze. Unfortunately for Carausius, his chief Minister/confidant (unsure titulature), Allectus, conspired against him and either assassinated Carausius or had him killed by others. Allectus thereupon assumed the title and function of Augustus of secessionist Britain. After his defeat of Allectus and restoration of secessionist Britain to the Empire, Constantius re-opened the London Mint, now as an official facility with one officina (workshop), which continued to produce only reformed folles until its closure in 325. It seems very likely that much of the early unmarked coinage was produced at the London Mint using British die engravers and other workers, formerly employed by the Carausius/Allectus Mints, now supervised and mixed in with Lugdunese mint workers who accompanied the Constantius invasion force. RIC VI, Londinium, No. 14a, Constantius, Caesar of the West, unreduced follis: <img src="http://jp29.org/lon14ao1.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /><img src="http://jp29.org/lon14ar1.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB C ............................. GENIO POPV — LI ROMANI Laureate, cuirassed bust of ConstantiusSmall head on a tall neck (reminiscent of the Carausian long neck antoniniani)Influence of Carausius/Allectus die engravers - maybe this die was made by one of them9.8 gm I do indeed like Carausian coins. Many of them bear somewhat “ugly” , even grotesque, portraiture, but they have great historical association.[/QUOTE]

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