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Carinus - An interesting pairing?


Furryfrog02

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I made an offer on this coin and, to my surprise, won. I bid on it for 2 reasons: I only have one other Carinus example. AND I liked the Victory on the reverse. 

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Well, it arrived today and I was working on attributing it when I ran into a bit of a problem. I couldn't find a matching example of my obverse and reverse pair. I couldn't find an IMP C CARINVS PF AVG obverse with a CLEMENTIA dot TEMP reverse. All the obverses I could find were  IMP M AVR CARINVS PF AVG.  I finally managed to find 1 example on accsearch from an auction that I've never heard of: Paul-Francis Jacquier. It looks like the same coin went up for sale in 2018, 2019, and finally sold in 2020. 
The description, in German, is: 

RÖMISCHE KAISERZEIT. CARINUS, Caesar 282-283, Augustus 283-285.
Antoninian, Cyzicus, Sommer 284. IMP C CARINVS P F AVG. Drap. Panzerbüste mit Stkr. rechts. Rv/ CLEMENTIA•TEMP/Δ/XXI. Kaiser in Feldtracht mit Zepter n. rechts stehend, von Jupiter, der mit Zepter n. links steht, einen Globus empfangend. C –. RIC – (cf. 202). Aufbau –. La Venèra – (cf. 4402). 3,75 g.
Unediert. Fast vorzüglich

image01774.jpg

 

My question is this - Would this be considered a fairly uncommon die pairing? Or am I missing a whole host of other examples?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Please feel free to post your matching coins, if you have them... or any other Carinus coins you may deem worthy to post 🙂

 

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It appears to be a rare obverse legend variety at this mint.

This is the text associated with the coin below from a different officina from the website of a specialist in this dynasty. 

Main page:-

http://othila-coins.com/index.php

Mint page:- You can search for the obverse legend on this page.

http://othila-coins.com/index.php?page=site_plaats&plaats=Cyzicus

324C var.    

IMP C CARINVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right    

CLEMENTIA dot TEMP, Carinus standing right, holding sceptre and receiving Victory from Jupiter standing left, holding long sceptre    Cyzicus    Carinus    Ex. Є/XXI

4th emission July 284.

Obverse Title only known from a Aureus: VICTORIA GERMANICA.

artikel_pic400.jpg.f3a5bd1eac96fa1d4c03c47f0aea72fc.jpg

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I love finding these varieties! What a cool coin, @Furryfrog02! I have only a single coin of Carinus and I'm happy to post it!

328832284_CarinusSAECVLIFELICITASAntoninianusLyons.jpg.c914750bb765ea2c91023cff57b57f68.jpg
Carinus, Augustus 283-285 CE.
Roman billon Antoninianus, 3.80 g, 21.1 mm, 12 h.
Lugdunum, 283 CE.
Obv: IMP C M AVR CARINVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: SAECVLI FELICITAS, emperor in military attire, standing right, holding transverse spear and globe, officina mark D (=4) in right field.
Refs: RIC 214; Cohen 120; RCV 12354; Hunter 37; Pink, p. 22, series 4.

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My two Carinus coins

Bronze coin (AE Antoninianus) minted at Rome during the reign of CARINUS between 283 - 285 A.D. Obv. IMP.CARINVS.P.F.AVG.: Radiate, draped bust r. Rev. AETERNIT.AVGG.: Eternity standing left, holding Phoenix on globe. RCS #3463. RICV #248. DVM #5.

image.png.50b6da7a78c8b2986c587117de0de6e9.pngimage.png.bb7cdf7b127baef15426de4bffe4b851.png

Bronze coin (AE Antoninianus) minted at Rome during the reign of CARINUS between 283 - 285 A.D. Obv. IMP.CARINVS.P.F.AVG.: Radiate bust r. Rev. GENIVS.EXERCITI.: Genius standing left. RCS #3467. RICVpii #256. DVM #10.

image.png.be23b8069745923da986c4bab53829e9.pngimage.png.ef37d9b5cfd27a78e61bfe40a4e37a31.png

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Congratulations on a nice find, @Furryfrog02! Apparently like many of us, I have exactly one coin of Carinus myself:

Carinus, AE Antoninianus, Feb/Mar 283 [promotion to Augustus] - Spring 285 [death of Carinus], Ticinum Mint [now Pavia, Italy] (3rd Officina). Obv. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, IMP CARINVS P F AVG / Rev. Felicitas standing facing, head left, left elbow resting on column, holding caduceus with raised right hand, FELICIT PVBLICA; in exergue, TXXI [3rd Officina, 20/1 copper/silver ratio of alloy]. RIC V-2 295, Sear RCV III 12343 (ill.), Cohen 24, Pink [Karl Pink 1949] p. 29, Series 4. 23.6 mm., 3.83 g. [For dating, see http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Carus.] 

image.jpeg.f542e59e76f7e3881bb81953169fdef3.jpeg

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Very nice find! And indeed it appears to be unlisted in RIC. 

My only Imperial Carinus

image.png.5e1d5014c5f33bb65cd65890ab8f9dd2.png 

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

 

I also have an Alexandrian tetradrachm 

image.png.f2498fe2b7ff8c939ad2cba6cb48be5d.png

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

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Another Alexandria example.....ex-Frank Robinson auction, 2019

Carinus (283-284 A.D.) AE Tetradrachm of Alexandria

19mm 7.19 grams Year 2 = 284 AD.

Obverse: A K M A KAΡINOC CEB, laureate, cuirassed bust right

Reverse: L-B, Elpis standing left holding flower and hem of skirt.

Reference: Milne 4701-3, BMC 2454, Koln 3177

carinus1.jpg

carinus2.jpg

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While they always say that there is nothing more common than a rare ancient coin, there is nothing wrong with having something that no one else has.   As usual I am terribly out of fashion.  I have more than one Carinus when fashion dictates only one.   Carinus gets no respect.  

My favorite is an Alexandrian tetradrachm with reverse legend honoring Legion 2 Traiana.  I bought it at a Baltimore show from a rather well respected dealer who had it in his junk box.  I really wonder if he read the reverse. 

pa2676aa1409tilt.jpg.b3fff7907dea60f9bffb7a5f30ee8f44.jpg

 

Ants:

2 as Caesar

rs3210bb1588.jpg.d5ffb93ea95e80cf35fe3a01189dd6cb.jpgrs3220bb2044.jpg.0e25f878b8cf44a372a3b25c70424be2.jpg

 

3  as Augustus

rs3230bb1586.jpg.e515a7522de0731e4f6e67dff9bebdff.jpgrs3250bb1532.jpg.3e2dde26d2007154d697d811e4237608.jpgrs3270bb2046.jpg.04c8ba11c7e19d9ac197394c70f8ab12.jpg

 

I find it interesting how varied the portraits and letter forms are from the various mints.   I also have a few from Carinus' even less respected brother Numerian who did use the IMPC legend start with no MAVR on my Clementia ant.  I chose this coin for the style and particularly Eta like Alphas.  Mint???  Things like this serve to remind us how little we know about our coins. rs3200bb1531.jpg.75e1e510bc5cfd56e7f35cd62f4845aa.jpg

 

 

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I have 2 Carinus coins, both my favorites.

Carinus as Caesar :

IMP M AVR CARINVS NOB C : Radiate and cuirassed bust of Carinus to right

VIRTVS AVGG / B / XXI : Carinus standing to right, holding short scepter in his left hand, receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter standing to left, holding long scepter in his left hand

RIC Vb 207 . A.D. 282-283. Antoninianus

car1.jpg.942cb2d6611b1dd522f9eff7894e1384.jpg

Carinus as augustus :

IMP CARINVS P F AVG :  Radiate and cuirassed bust right

FIDES MILITVM / KAЄ  : Fides standing left, holding two signa.

Lugdunum, A.D. 284,  RIC Vb , 253, Antoninianus

car2.jpg.528673bacb5656701c37c2d404777aa2.jpg

Edited by mc9
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2 hours ago, Sulla80 said:

 

A nice pickup @Furryfrog02, congrats! here's my one Carinus...

1398008605_CarinusAlexandriaTet.jpg.c66d192238092763429113c656f35b3f.jpg

What legion is represented on your coin, if you know? I checked the legion Doug was referring to above (Legion II Trajana) and it happens to have been based at Nicopolis in Egypt. It was originally mustered by Trajan for the Dacian Campaign.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legio_II_Traiana_Fortis

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21 minutes ago, Ancient Coin Hunter said:

What legion is represented on your coin, if you know? I checked the legion Doug was referring to above (Legion II Trajana) and it happens to have been based at Nicopolis in Egypt. It was originally mustered by Trajan for the Dacian Campaign.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legio_II_Traiana_Fortis

While I am not 100% - I think it is likely the same legion referenced: Legion II Traiana Fortis which I think was the only legion in Alexandria at the time having succeeded III Cyrenaica which moved to Arabia in 125 AD.  XXII Deiotariana was also known to be based in Alexandria until ~120 AD.

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Thats a nice uncommon obverse variety! Considering how short his reign has been, it's remarkable how common coins of Carinus are. I have got one myself:

323925012_RomCarinusAntoninianVirtus.png.fd53196b2840cbac2bed32489e921125.png

Carinus, Roman Empire, AE antoninian, 283–285 AD, Antioch mint. Obv: IMP C M AVR CARINVS PF AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust of Carinus r. Rev: VIRTVS AVGG; Carinus standing r., receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter or Carus standing l.; in fields, star and ∈Δ; in exergue, XXI. 20mm, 3.61g. Ref: RIC V Carus 325.

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