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Not spectacular, not rare, probably dull, but a Carinus from Alexandria still deserves some attention


ambr0zie

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On my latest auction, I only bought 3 coins, since my budget is low and I have gradually adjusted my collecting strategies, so less coins but I try to choose important/interesting ones. And if there is still some budget, a snack or 2 (coins that are not candidates for yearly top 10 for example, nothing special, but relevant for my collection, I feel they're good additions and the price is low)

Last one I bought is a perfect example for the snack category.

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Egypt, Alexandria. Carinus, 283-285. Tetradrachm Potin. 18,2 mm 6,93 g. RY 2 = 283/4. Α Κ Μ Α ΚΑΡΙΝΟC CЄΒ Laureate and cuirassed bust of Carinus to right. Rev. L - B Elpis standing left, holding flower in her right hand and raising skirt with her left; to upper right, star. Dattari (Savio) 5585. Emmett 4007.2. K&G 115.10. Sear 4779

 

Overall:
- very good details and strike
- one of the scarcer royal figures
- a reverse with Elpis, my first coin with the Spes counterpart
- although this is not a criteria for me, the excellent centering, especially on the reverse, was a plus.

Another plus is that this coin was struck in the Augustus period of Carinus, my only other coin with his portrait being from his Caesar period.

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Carinus, as Caesar AD 282-283. Rome
Antoninianus Æ
20 mm, 3,61 g
M AVR CARINVS NOB CAES, bust of Carinus, radiate, draped, cuirassed, right / PIETAS AVGG, pontifical implements, variously arranged
MintMark: -/-//KAZ
RIC V Carus 155

Let's see Carinus coins, Alexandria late tetradrachms, coins with Elpis/Spes, snacks from auctions or anything suitable.

Edited by ambr0zie
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Nice addition, these tetradrachms are always special

Here are some of my Alexandrian Carinus Tets.

 

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Carinus 283-285
Alexandria
Billon-Tetradrachm
Obv.: A K M A KAPINOC CEB, laureate and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: ETOYC Γ (year 3), Homonoia standing left, raising right arm, double cornucopia in left
Billon, 8.23g, 19.2mm
Ref.: Milne 4737, Curtis 1922, BMC 2455, Geissen 3185, Dattari 5586

 

 

 

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Similar to your example but without star.

Carinus 283-285
Alexandria
Billon-Tetradrachm
Obv.: A K M A KAPINOC CEB, laureate and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: Elpis standing left, holding flower and raising dress, date L-B (year 2)
Billon, 7.78g, 19.2mm
Ref.: Milne 4701, Curtis 1917, Geissen 3178, Emmett 4007

 

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Carinus as Caesar
Alexandria AD 282-283
Billon-Tetradrachm
Obv.: A K M A KAPINOC K, laureate and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: LA (year 1, 282-283), Tyche standing left, rudder in right, cornucopia in left
Billon, 7.71g, 18.8mm
Ref.: Geissen 3172, Dattari 5576, Kampmann/Ganschow 115.3

 

Edited by shanxi
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I bought a small collection of Alexandrian Tets. last year and this one was amongst them.

Carinus, Billon tetradrachm, Alexandria

Obv:– A K M A KAPINOC K, Laureate, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– None, Fortuna/ Tyche crowned with modius, wearing long chiton and peplios, standing left resting right hand on rudder and holding cornucopiae in left hand.
Minted in Alexandria (LA in upper left field). A.D. 283
Reference:– Curtis 1927, BMC 2448, Milne 4667

6.60g. 19.74 mm. 0 degrees

GI_137c_img.jpg

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My main focus for Alexandrians is however Probus. So here are a few Elpis coins I have of him.

Year 1 and Year 8 of Probus is generally scarcer than the other years as the production time was much shorter.

If you start to collect by Milne they there are a number of sub-variants that you can look for regarding a sub-type such as relative positioning of letters etc.

For example here are two Elpis Year 1 coins with different positioning of the L and A.

Obv:– A K M AVP PROBOC CEB, Laureate cuirassed bust right
Rev:– Elpis (Spes) standing left, holding flower and raising skirt.
Minted in Alexandria, Egypt. Year 1. (A to upper right of L in left field)
Reference:– Milne 4516. Emmett 3987(1) R2. Curtis -. BMC 2416. Köln 3124; Dattari 5532 var

9.26 gms

GI_132ap_img.jpg

Obv:– A K M AVP PROBOC CEB, Laureate cuirassed bust right
Rev:– Elpis (Spes) standing left, holding flower and raising skirt.
Minted in Alexandria, Egypt. Year 1. (A over L in left field)
Reference:– Milne 4514. Emmett 3987(1) R2. Curtis -. Dattari 5532

9.00 gms

GI_132am_img.jpg

Here is a year 2 example of Elpis

Obv:– A K M AVP PROBOC CEB, Laureate cuirassed bust right
Rev:– Elpis (Spes) standing left, holding flower and raising skirt.
Minted in Alexandria, Egypt. Year 2. (B over L in left field)
Reference:– Milne 4531. Emmett 3987(2) R1. Curtis 1881. BMC 2417.

7.56 gms

GI_132d_img.jpg

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Carinus-Tet.jpg.8f8e33de8d7ac0d957bed04392b27c19.jpg

Carinus (283 - 285 A.D.)

Egypt, Alexandria
Potin Tetradrachm
O: A K M A KA-RINOS K, laureate and cuirassed bust right.
R: yche standing left, rudder in right, cornucopia in left. LA (Year 1 282/3 A.D.) to left.
8g
18mm
Dattari 5576; Milne 4667; Emmett 4012

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My favorite Carinus is year three mentioning Legion II Traiana (ΛΕΓ Β ΤΡΑΙ).  I bought this from a well known and high end dealer at a Baltimore show to whom all late Romans were junk and a cleaned Alexandrian tet was beneath notice.  I remain curious if he read the reverse legend. pa2676aa1409tilt.jpg.5f562ee35d6297a6f131c821907c07a9.jpg

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This Carinus was my first ancient coin. I chose it because I really wanted to be able to make out the inscription, and I also particularly liked the portrait. Note these are the dealer's photos, not mine.

 

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Carinus, Antoninianus, 283-285 CE, 22mm, 3.66g, 5h, Rome mint

Obv: IMP C M AVR CARINVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right

Rev: AEQVITAS AVGG / KAZ (in ex), Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopia

Ref: RIC 238

ex. Sebastian Sondermann

 

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I'm quite fascinated with his coins and those of his father and brother as well. I didn't realize I even had 4 examples of his in my collection... Thank you for sharing your new snack! It's certainly tasty!

CollageMaker_20190424_184402573.jpg

Carinus, Ruled 283-285 AD
AE Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria
Struck 283/284 AD
Obverse: A K M A KAPINOC CЄB, laureate and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: Eagle standing facing, head right, between two vexilla, LB above, RY 2.
References: Emmett 4005, Dattari 5596
Size: 19mm, 7.5g
Ex: The Reverend Willis McGill Collection (McGill was an American missionary stationed in Egypt, who started collecting there during World War I)

 

CollageMaker_20190526_154604479.jpg

Carinus (as Caesar), Ruled 283-285 AD
AE Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria
Struck 282/283 AD
Obverse: A K MA KAPINOC K, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: Tyche standing left, holding rudder and cornucopiae, date LA in upper left field (year 1=282/283 AD).
References: Emmett 4012, Dattari 5576, Köln 3172
Ex: Naville Numismatics, Auction 49, Lot #203 (5-12-2019)

 

CollageMaker_20181213_184458391

­­Carinus, (as Caesar), Ruled 283-285 AD
AE Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria
Struck 282/283 AD
Obverse: A K M A KAPINOC K, laureate and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: Eagle standing facing, head right, between two vexilla, LA above, RY 1.
References: Emmett 4005, SNG Cop 951
Size: 19mm, 7.26g

 

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Elpis reverse, year 2

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