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

The Coinage of Carausius - Legend, Mintmark, and Portrait Type Sequences, Rarity, and Dating

IMP CARAVSIVS [P F] AVG (286 - 291)

Londinium (London, England)

Unmarked, moustache portrait, very common (c. mid 286 - mid 287) [The few middle portraits with this obverse legend and no mintmark, are perhaps error coins or unofficial]

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

ML, moustache portrait, common, (c. 287)

ML, middle portrait, common (c. 288 - early 289)

L-[ ] / ML, middle portrait, common (c. 289)

F-O / ML, middle portrait, very common (c. 289 - mid 290)

B-E / MLXXI, B*-E / MLXXI, middle portrait, very common (c. mid 290 - 291)

Camulodunum (Colchester, England)

CXXI, MCXXI, moustache portrait, common (c. early 287 - mid 287)

MSC, SMC, moustache portrait, very rare (c. mid 287 - end 287)

C, moustache portrait, scarce (c. mid 287 - end 287)

C, middle portrait, very common (c. 288 - 291)

MC, middle portrait, scarce (c. 288 - 291)

S-P / [ ], S-C / [ ], S-P / C, S-C / C [References describe these types but when available all plate coins have the later obverse legend or are unofficial. No examples confirmed.]

Rotomagus (Rouen, France)

R, OPR, IOI, OPA, continental portrait (c. mid 286 - 287)

Uncertain (Probably London, England)

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

XXI, XXX, moustache portrait, extremely rare (c. mid 286 - mid 287)

RSR, moustache portrait, common (c. mid 287)

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

Londinium (London, England)

B-E / MLXXI, middle portrait, common (c. 291 - early 292)

B-E / MLXXI, middle/tetrarchic portrait, common (c. 292 - early 293) [middle portrait with tetrarchic aspects]

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

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

Camulodunum (Colchester, England)

Unmarked, middle portrait, scarce (c. 291 - 292)

S-P / [ ], S-C / [ ], middle portrait, very common (c. 291 - 292)

S-P / C, S-C / C, middle/tetrarchic portrait, common (c. 292 - early 293) [middle portrait with tetrarchic aspects]

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

Other mintmarks are likely unofficial or due to engraving errors, filled dies, or strike errors.

The sequence and dating above is the opinion of Joseph Sermarini. It is based on the sequence and dating established by P.H. Webb in "The Linchmere Hoard" in NC 1925. Changes to Webb's dating are based on recognizing Carausius' three portrait types and their sequence. The most significant change from Webb's dating applies to coins with the mintmarks CXXI and MCXXI. Webb dated these types to "289 later and 290 early part," however, these type have Carausius' earliest portrait type and must be dated to 286 or 287.

Four Portrait Types of Carausius

This article is based on C.E. King's "The Unmarked Coins of Carausius" in BNJ 54 (1984), pp. 1 - 9. The plate images below are from King's article and most of this article corresponds very closely with his.

There are four types of Carausius portraits: 1) an early-reign portrait with a full moustache, 2) a mid-reign portrait without a moustache or diminished moustache, 3) a late-reign tetrarchic style portrait, and 4) the unique "continental" type or the Rotomagus mint. The "continental" type will not be discussed below. For each of the three British 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 (c. mid 286 - 287). 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) Middle reign portrait (c. 288 - 291). In the second portrait type, Carausius 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 have some tetrarchic aspects. This middle reign portrait style occurs commonly on L mint, C mint, and unmarked coins. The middle reign portrait is accompanied by legends begging IMP CARAVSIVS

3) Late reign tetrarchic portrait (c. 292 - mid 293). 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 tetrarchic portrait is always accompanied by legends beginning IMP C CARAVSIVS... The tetrarchic portrait is the last portrait type struck; it does not occur on unmarked coins, which were no longer struck when this portrait was used.

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.

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

Also see: ERIC - CARAUSIUS

References

The Coinage of Carausius - Legend, Mintmark, and Portrait Type Sequences, Rarity, and Dating

IMP CARAVSIVS [P F] AVG (286 - 291)

Londinium (London, England)

Unmarked, moustache portrait, very common (c. mid 286 - mid 287) [The few middle portraits with this obverse legend and no mintmark, are perhaps error coins or unofficial]

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

ML, moustache portrait, common, (c. 287)

ML, middle portrait, common (c. 288 - early 289)

L-[ ] / ML, middle portrait, common (c. 289)

F-O / ML, middle portrait, very common (c. 289 - mid 290)

B-E / MLXXI, B*-E / MLXXI, middle portrait, very common (c. mid 290 - 291)

Camulodunum (Colchester, England)

CXXI, MCXXI, moustache portrait, common (c. early 287 - mid 287)

MSC, SMC, moustache portrait, very rare (c. mid 287 - end 287)

C, moustache portrait, scarce (c. mid 287 - end 287)

C, middle portrait, very common (c. 288 - 291)

MC, middle portrait, scarce (c. 288 - 291)

S-P / [ ], S-C / [ ], S-P / C, S-C / C [References describe these types but when available all plate coins have the later obverse legend or are unofficial. No examples confirmed.]

Rotomagus (Rouen, France)

R, OPR, IOI, OPA, continental portrait (c. mid 286 - 287)

Uncertain (Probably London, England)

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

XXI, XXX, moustache portrait, extremely rare (c. mid 286 - mid 287)

RSR, moustache portrait, common (c. mid 287)

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

Londinium (London, England)

B-E / MLXXI, middle portrait, common (c. 291 - early 292)

B-E / MLXXI, middle/tetrarchic portrait, common (c. 292 - early 293) [middle portrait with tetrarchic aspects]

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

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

Camulodunum (Colchester, England)

Unmarked, middle portrait, scarce (c. 291 - 292)

S-P / [ ], S-C / [ ], middle portrait, very common (c. 291 - 292)

S-P / C, S-C / C, middle/tetrarchic portrait, common (c. 292 - early 293) [middle portrait with tetrarchic aspects]

Four Portrait Types of Carausius

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|