Auction Catalogue

17 March 2009

Starting at 1:00 PM

.

Celtic and Ancient Coins

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 1293

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17 March 2009

Hammer Price:
£400

Carausius, ‘Aurelianus’, C mint, c. 292-3, IMP C CARAVSIVS P AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, rev. HILARITAS AVGGG S P MC, Hilaritas standing left, holding palm and cornucopiæ, 4.15g/7h (Casey –; Sheil –; Burnett, Studies in the Coinage of Carausius and Allectus, –; Webb –; Hunter –; RIC –, but for rev. type see p.555, 33 [London mint, in the name of Maximian]). Extremely fine though slightly weak on reverse, apparently unpublished £200-300

This rare issue with reverse legend ending AVGGG sets Carausius on an equal footing with Diocletian and Maximian, to which no numismatic gesture was reciprocated. This claim was so late in his reign that it must have been for internal propaganda, as by this time it would have been obvious that the central emperors had no intention of recognising Carausius