Romano-British Empire, Carausius, Mid 286 - Mid 293 A.D.

Marcus Aurelius Mausaeus Carausius was originally a fleet commander sent by the first Tetrarchs to rid the Northern seas of Saxon and Frankish pirates. He soon turned to piracy himself, before fleeing to Britain and declaring himself emperor. His natural cunning enabled him to resist all attempts to dislodge him. In 293 Constantius I captured his continental stronghold of Boulogne. Soon after Carausius was murdered by his chief minister Allectus.

Also see: ERIC - CARAUSIUS

References

Askew, G. The Coinage of Roman Britain. (London, 1980).
Beaujard, E.B. & H. Huvelin. "Le tresor de Rouen et l'occupation de la Gaule par Carausius" in Histoire et Numismatique en Haut-Normandie. (Caen, 1980).
Bland, R. "A Hoard of Carausius and Allectus from Burton Latimer" in BNJ 54 (1984), pp. 41 - 50. Available Online
Burnett, A. & J. Casey. A Carausian Hoard from Croydon, Surrey, and a Note on Carausius's Continental Possessions" in BNJ 54 (1984), pp. 10 - 20. Available Online
Calicó, X. The Roman Avrei, Vol. 2: From Didius Julianus to Constantius I, 193 AD - 335 AD. (Barcelona, 2003).
Carson, R.A.G. "The Sequence-marks on the Coinage of Carausius and Allectus" in Essays Baldwin (1971), pp. 57 - 65.
Casey, P.J. Carausius and Allectus: The British Usurpers. (New Haven, 1995).
Challis, C.E. & M.A.S. Blackburn. Studies in the Coinages of Carausius and Allectus. (London, 1985).
Cohen, H. Description historique des monnaies frappées sous l'Empire Romain, Vol. 7: Carausius to Constantine & Sons. (Paris, 1888).
Depeyrot, G. Les monnaies d'or de Dioclétien a Constantin I (284-337). (Wetteren, 1995).
Giard, J-B. "La monnaie de Carausius à Rouen: une remise en question" in RN 1995, Vol. 6, Issue 150, pp. 264 - 266. Available Online
King, C.E. "A Small Hoard of Carausius Found Near Bicester Oxfordshire" in BNJ 53, (1982), pp. 7 - 16. Available Online
King, C.E. "The Unmarked Coins of Carausius" in BNJ 54 (1984), pp. 1 - 9. Available Online
King, C.E. & D.R. Sear. Roman Silver Coins, Volume V, Carausius to Romulus Augustus. (London, 1987).
Mattingly, H., E.A. Sydenham & P. Webb. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Vol V, Part II, Probus to Amandus. (London, 1933).
Robinson, A. Roman Imperial Coins in the Hunter Coin Cabinet, University of Glasgow, Vol. IV. Valerian I to Allectus. (Oxford, 1978).
Schaaff, U. Münzen der römischen Kaiserzeit mit Schiffsdarstellungen im Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseum. (Munich, 2003).
Sear, D.R. Roman Coins and Their Values, Volume IV: The Tetrarchies and the Rise of the House of Constantine...Diocletian To Constantine I, AD 284 - 337. (London, 2011).
Shiel, N. The Episode of Carausius and Allectus. BAR 40. (Oxford, 1977).
Southerland, C.H.V. "'Carausius II', 'Censeris', and the Barbarous Fel. Temp. Reparatio Overstrikes" in NC 1945.
Vagi, D. Coinage and History of the Roman Empire. (Sidney, 1999).
Webb, P.H. The reign and coinage of Carausius. (London, 1908). Available Online
Webb, P.H. "The Linchmere Hoard" in NC 1925, pp. 173 - 235. Available Online

Mintmark sequences of the coinage of Carausius and Allectus

IMP CARAVSIVS P F AVG (286 - 291)

Londinium (London, England)

Unmarked, early reign moustache portrait, common (c. mid 286 - early/mid 287)

BRI, early reign moustache portrait, extremely rare (c. early/mid 287)

ML, mid-reign portrait (c. mid 287 - 288)

L-[ ] / ML, mid-reign portrait (c. 288 - 289)

F-O / ML, mid-reign portrait (c. 289 - 290)

B-E / MLXXI, B*-E / MLXXI, mid-reign portrait (c. 290 - 291)

Camulodunum (Colchester, England)

C, early reign moustache portrait/mid-reign portrait (c. mid 287 - 288)

MC, early reign moustache portrait, rare (c. 288 - 289)

SMC, early reign moustache portrait, rare (c. 288 - 289)

MSC, early reign moustache portrait, rare (c. 289 - 290)

CXXI, MCXXI, early reign moustache portrait (c. 290 - 291)

S-C / C, S-C / [ ], S-P / [ ], early reign moustache portrait/mid-reign portrait (c. 291)

Rotomagus (Rouen, France)

R, OPR, IOI, OPA (c. 287)

Uncertain (Probably London)

X, V, V*, L in field, early reign moustache portrait (c. mid 286 - mid 287)

XXI, XXX, early reign moustache portrait (c. mid 286 - mid 287)

RSR, early reign moustache portrait (c. mid 287)

IMP C CARAVSIVS P F AVG (291 - mid 293)

Londinium (London, England)

B-E / MLXXI, mid-reign portrait (c. 291)

S-P / MLXXI, mid-reign portrait/tetrarchic portrait (c. 292 - early 293)

S-P / ML, S-C / ML, tetrarchic portrait (c. early - mid 293)

Camulodunum (Colchester, England)

Unmarked, mid-reign portrait (c. 291 - 292)

S-P / [ ], S-C / [ ], mid-reign portrait/tetrarchic portrait (c. 291 - 292)

S-P / C, S-C / C, mid-reign portrait/tetrarchic portrait (c. 292 - early 293)

SPC, tetrarchic portrait, rare (c. 292 - mid 293)

Webb Carausius

Webb, P.H. The reign and coinage of |Carausius. (London|, 1908). Available Online

1. Common obverse legends, referred to by numbers.
1. IMP CARAVSIVS AVG.
2. IMP CARAVSIVS P AV.
3. IMP CARAVSIVS P AVG.
4. IMP CARAVSIVS P F AV.
5. IMP CARAVSIVS P F AVG.
6. IMP C CARAVSIVS AVG.
7. IMP C CARAVSIVS IVG.
8. IMP C CARAVSIVS P AVG.
9. IMP C CARAVSIVS P F AVG.

2. Common types of bust, referred to by letters.
A. Radiate bust to right, draped.
B. Radiate bust to right, draped and cuirassed.
C. Radiate bust to right, cuirassed only.
D. Laureate bust to right, draped.
E. Laureate bust to right, draped and cuirassed.
R. Laureate bust to right, cuirassed only.

Contents

Londinium (London)....................92

Camulodunum (Colchester)....................120

Camulodunum (Colchester), S -, S - C, or S - P....................153

RSR....................164

Rotomagus (Rouen)....................178

UNCERTAIN

I. British Coins without Recorded Mint-Marks
Silver....................193
Bronze....................196

II Coins with Unattributed Mint-Marks
Silver....................238
Bronze....................240

Carausius, Diocletian and Maximian
Camulodunum (Colchester), Bronze....................242

Coins Issued by Carausius, Bearing Bust and Name of Diocletian
Londinium (London), Bronze....................243
Camulodunum (Colchester), Bronze....................245
Uncertain Mint, Bronze....................246

Coins Issued by Carausius, Bearing Bust and Name of Maximian
Londinium (London), Gold....................247
Camulodunum (Colchester), Bronze....................248
Uncertain Mint, Bronze....................248

Supplement....................250

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Three Portrait Styles of Carausius

Source: King, C.E. "The Unmarked Coins of Carausius" in BNJ 54 (1984), pp. 1 - 9.

There are three types of Carausius portraits: 1) an early-reign portrait with a full moustache, 2) a mid-reign portrait without a moustache or diminished moustache, and 3) a late-reign tetrarchic style portrait. For each of these three types there are two commons styles, most easily identified by the engraving of the mouth, one style has a straight mouth, the other style usually has a slight smile.

1) Early reign 'moustache' portrait. In the first type, Carausius is bearded and has a full moustache (e.g. Nos. 24-28 and 48-50). The 'moustache' portrait seems to occur mainly on C mint coins and unmarked pieces, and only very rarely on L mint pieces. At the C mint this portrait is restricted to the CXXI and MCXXI marks.

2) Mid-reign portrait. In the second portrait type, he is still bearded but his moustache is either non-existent or else much less emphatic (e.g. Nos. 29-30, 33-34, and 40-43). His neck is longer and some examples are somewhat tetrarchic. This portrait style two occurs commonly on L mint, C mint, and unmarked coins.

3) Late reign tetrarchic portrait. In the third Carausius is much more tetrarchic in appearance, he is still bearded, and a moustache is often engraved, but again much less obviously than on coins of the first group (e.g. No. 35 and 46).The third portrait style (the tetrarchic one) which is the latest, does not occur on unmarked coins. This seems to suggest that they may have ceased being issued before this portrait was introduced.

Unmarked coins of portrait styles one and two can be subdivided into two groups which probably represent two different die engravers or workshops. The simplest criterion by which to distinguish the two in the first instance is the way in which they engrave the mouth.

1) Straight mouth style portrait. In the first group it is engraved either as a straight line or a slightly diagonal one.

Portrait style 1 (the 'moustache' portrait): Nos. 24-28.

Portrait style 2: Nos. 29-30, 37, 39. Obverses of similar style are found at the L mint (Nos. 33-36) and at the C mint (No. 43).

2) Smiling style portrait. The second group engraved the mouth with an upward curving line which makes it look as if Carausius is smiling (Nos. 38, 40-42, and 44-45). In addition to unmarked coins, portraits of this style were struck at the C mint (Nos. 42 and 45) and the L mint (none illustrated). The obverses of Nos. 48-50 probably belong to this group as well although the curve of the moustache obscures the line of the mouth. They are quite different from the 'moustache' portrait of the preceding group.

The obverses of Nos. 48-50 probably belong to this group as well although the curve of the moustache obscures the line of the mouth. They are quite different from the 'moustache' portrait of the preceding group.

RIC V, Part 2, Carausius

Inscriptions referred to by number
1. IMP C CARAVSIVS P F AVG
2. IMP C CARAVSIVS P AVG
3. IMP C CARAVSIVS P IVG
4. IMP C CARAVSIVS AVG
5. IMP CARAVSIVS P F AVG
6. IMP CARAVSIVS P F AV
7. IMP CARAVSIVS P AVG
8. IMP CARAVSIVS P AV
9. IMP CARAVSIVS AVG

Busts referred to by letter
A. Radiate, draped bust r.
B. Laureate, draped bust r.
C. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust r.
D. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r.
E. Laureate, cuirassed bust r.
F. Radiate, cuirassed bust r.
G. Radiate, helmeted, cuirassed bust l., holding spear and shield.

DICTIONARY| OF ROMAN| COINS|

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Romano-British Empire, Carausius, Mid 286 - Mid 293 A.D.

Also see: ERIC - CARAUSIUS

References

Mintmark sequences of the coinage of Carausius and Allectus

IMP CARAVSIVS P F AVG (286 - 291)

Londinium (London, England)

Unmarked, early reign moustache portrait, common (c. mid 286 - early/mid 287)

BRI, early reign moustache portrait, extremely rare (c. early/mid 287)

ML, mid-reign portrait (c. mid 287 - 288)

L-[ ] / ML, mid-reign portrait (c. 288 - 289)

F-O / ML, mid-reign portrait (c. 289 - 290)

B-E / MLXXI, B*-E / MLXXI, mid-reign portrait (c. 290 - 291)

Camulodunum (Colchester, England)

C, early reign moustache portrait/mid-reign portrait (c. mid 287 - 288)

MC, early reign moustache portrait, rare (c. 288 - 289)

SMC, early reign moustache portrait, rare (c. 288 - 289)

MSC, early reign moustache portrait, rare (c. 289 - 290)

CXXI, MCXXI, early reign moustache portrait (c. 290 - 291)

S-C / C, S-C / [ ], S-P / [ ], early reign moustache portrait/mid-reign portrait (c. 291)

Rotomagus (Rouen, France)

R, OPR, IOI, OPA (c. 287)

Uncertain (Probably London)

X, V, V*, L in field, early reign moustache portrait (c. mid 286 - mid 287)

XXI, XXX, early reign moustache portrait (c. mid 286 - mid 287)

RSR, early reign moustache portrait (c. mid 287)

IMP C CARAVSIVS P F AVG (291 - mid 293)

Londinium (London, England)

B-E / MLXXI, mid-reign portrait (c. 291)

S-P / MLXXI, tetrarchic portrait (c. 292 - early 293)

S-P / ML, S-C / ML, tetrarchic portrait (c. early - mid 293)

Camulodunum (Colchester, England)

Unmarked, mid-reign portrait (c. 291 - 292)

S-P / [ ], S-C / [ ], mid-reign portrait/tetrarchic portrait (c. 291 - 292)

S-P / C, S-C / C, mid-reign portrait/tetrarchic portrait (c. 292 - early 293)

SPC, tetrarchic portrait, rare (c. 292 - mid 293)

Webb Carausius

Webb, P.H. The reign and coinage of |Carausius. (London|, 1908). Available Online

Contents

Suggestion: Use this screen or copy and print this key to use the PDF faster and without having to scroll back.

Three Portrait Styles of Carausius

Portrait style 2: Nos. 29-30, 37, 39. Obverses of similar style are found at the L mint (Nos. 33-36) and at the C mint (No. 43).

RIC V, Part 2, Carausius

DICTIONARY| OF ROMAN| COINS|

	Please \|help\| us convert the \|Dictionary of Roman Coins\| from scans to text by typing the original text here. Please add updates or make corrections to the NumisWiki text version as appropriate.

	Please \|help\| us convert the \|Dictionary of Roman Coins\| from scans to text by typing the original text here. Please add updates or make corrections to the NumisWiki text version as appropriate.

View whole page from the |Dictionary Of Roman Coins|