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Carausius - CONCORDIA MILITV


maridvnvm

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I don't generally collect Carausius but I saw something that wasn't one of the usual PAX types and bought it. I must stop getting distracted......

Carausius, Antoninianus
Obv:- IMP CARAVSIVS P F AVG, Radiate draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev:- CONCORDIA MILITV,, Emperor and Concordia standing facing each other clasping hands
Minted in Camulodonum, //C
Reference:- cf. RIC V Pt 2, 205 (RIC 205 is rated R by RIC but doesn't include this reverse legend variation)

On this example it looks like the emperor is radiate on the reverse. Old scratches in the fields on the obverse.

RI_143f_imga.JPG

The only other example that I have been able to find is in the Mauseus collection and appears to be a double die match.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=180079

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Great distraction. Mine is the usual "Pax".

 

caras.jpg.bdcdd2add107dda01afbf7ab514a68fc.jpg

Carausius (287 - 293 A.D.)

Æ Antoninianus
O: IMP C CARAVSIVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
R: PAX AVG, Pax standing left, holding olive-branch and sceptre; S in left field; P in right field.
Camulodunum(?) Mint
4.53g
23mm
RIC 475

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Nice! An out-of-the-ordinary type, indeed, @maridvnvm. I have an unusual PAX type. There are no mint or field marks whatsoever. Pax holds an olive branch and a cornucopiae. It is unlisted in RIC and Sear. The reverse type is the mirror image of RIC 927.

[IMG]

Carausius, AD 286-293.
Roman billon antoninianus, 2.91 g, 21.2 mm, 3 h.
Uncertain British mint.
Obv: IMP CARAVSIVS P F AVG, radiate (draped and cuirassed?) bust, right.
Rev: PAX AVG, Pax standing left, holding olive branch and cornucopiae.
Refs: cf. Blackmoor Hoard 20440-1; RIC --; RCV --.
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Without doing any research into what has been said on the subject, if anything, I will make the observation that many Carausius and Allectus coins seem to have edge chips. Are these coins more brittle due to the alloy and prevalent burial conditions or is this simply because they are highly prized and poorer quality metal detecting finds tend to enter the market?

image.jpeg.5f8705851c5d8f2f8f4b9c8888208642.jpeg

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On 8/5/2023 at 4:37 AM, maridvnvm said:

I don't generally collect Carausius but I saw something that wasn't one of the usual PAX types and bought it. I must stop getting distracted......

Carausius, Antoninianus
Obv:- IMP CARAVSIVS P F AVG, Radiate draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev:- CONCORDIA MILITV,, Emperor and Concordia standing facing each other clasping hands
Minted in Camulodonum, //C
Reference:- cf. RIC V Pt 2, 205 (RIC 205 is rated R by RIC but doesn't include this reverse legend variation)

Very nice. It looks like the "radiate fraction" or "post-reform radiate" which is very common for members of the First Tetrarchy, but only in the East. They look a lot like ants, but have no intentionally-added silver (ants do, which makes them much more valuable intrinsically). Here is a radiate fraction of Maximian:

Maximian3CONCORDIAMILITVMmmKB2057.jpg.8e52d7d4d94a68d13ae564bb9bf0bdb5.jpg

Maximian
22-20 mm. 3.12 grams.
IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
   KB
RIC Cyzicus 15b "c. 295-9"
Sear IV 13315

I suppose the OP coin is an ant, even though it looks like it has no silver. I don't know that Carausius ever issued "radiate fractions." But, if he considered doing it and had a prototype made, it would have the CONCORDIA MILITVM reverse (one letter longer than the OP legend) and it might be rare like the OP coin and it would look a lot like the OP coin. 

For a page on "radiate fractions" see:  http://augustuscoins.com/ed/tetrarchy/radiatefraction.html

 

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