Rare AE Antoninianus Of CARAUSIUS, British Empire, Brexiter ML
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:21484116 | Ruler: Carausius |
| Denomination: Antoninianus |
Carausius (usurper) 286 - 293AE AntoninianusIMP CARAVSIVS AVG, Draped radiate bust rightPAX AVG / ML, Pax standing left
Born at an uncertain date of presumably humble Gallic origins, Carausius seems to have distinguished himself while serving under Maximian in his Gallic campaigns. In about 286, he was entrusted with a fleet to patrol the English Channel to combat and sink barbarian pirate ships that had been a headache for the region. It was claimed that Carausius first began keepi...ng the captured booty for his own profit, and that he then began to let the pirates complete their raids before engaging them in battle, thus quickly building a vast fortune for himself. Maximian issued a death warrant for Carausius, and in return the renegade naval commander declared himself emperor, either winning or buying the loyalty of three legions and supplementing his force with barbarian mercenaries. He soon controlled all of Britannia and the Gallic coast and in about 289 successfully repelled an invasion by Maximian, and struck an uneasy peace with the Tetrarchy. It is possible that Carausius thought he could rally the Germanic tribes against Rome and lead them to capture the empire for himself - Diocletian and Maximian worked together to strike them before they had the opportunity to decide whether to support this usurper.
Carausius is unusual among Roman usurpers, as he struck coins stressing his legitimacy as the third Augustus of the empire, showing his portrait jugate with those of Diocletian and Maximian. His coinage also paint him as the liberator of Britain, and some are believed to have presented him as a messaianic figure foretold by the ancient writer Virgil. Their purpose is not well known, but Carausius minted a small number of denarii in good silver, almost on par with the issues at the start of the Crisis. Many of these bear the letters RSR in the exergue, ostensibly a reference to Virgil, "The Golden Ages have Returned". The peace ended in 293 when Constantius Chlorus marched into Gaul and reclaimed all of Carausius' holdings. Soon after, Carausius was assassinated by his finance minister, Allectus.
Born at an uncertain date of presumably humble Gallic origins, Carausius seems to have distinguished himself while serving under Maximian in his Gallic campaigns. In about 286, he was entrusted with a fleet to patrol the English Channel to combat and sink barbarian pirate ships that had been a headache for the region. It was claimed that Carausius first began keepi...ng the captured booty for his own profit, and that he then began to let the pirates complete their raids before engaging them in battle, thus quickly building a vast fortune for himself. Maximian issued a death warrant for Carausius, and in return the renegade naval commander declared himself emperor, either winning or buying the loyalty of three legions and supplementing his force with barbarian mercenaries. He soon controlled all of Britannia and the Gallic coast and in about 289 successfully repelled an invasion by Maximian, and struck an uneasy peace with the Tetrarchy. It is possible that Carausius thought he could rally the Germanic tribes against Rome and lead them to capture the empire for himself - Diocletian and Maximian worked together to strike them before they had the opportunity to decide whether to support this usurper.
Carausius is unusual among Roman usurpers, as he struck coins stressing his legitimacy as the third Augustus of the empire, showing his portrait jugate with those of Diocletian and Maximian. His coinage also paint him as the liberator of Britain, and some are believed to have presented him as a messaianic figure foretold by the ancient writer Virgil. Their purpose is not well known, but Carausius minted a small number of denarii in good silver, almost on par with the issues at the start of the Crisis. Many of these bear the letters RSR in the exergue, ostensibly a reference to Virgil, "The Golden Ages have Returned". The peace ended in 293 when Constantius Chlorus marched into Gaul and reclaimed all of Carausius' holdings. Soon after, Carausius was assassinated by his finance minister, Allectus.
