Ancient & Islamic Coins

Roman Imperial Coinage, Carausius, Antoninianus, ‘C’ mint, imp c caravsivs p avg, radiate and curiassed bust left, rev. iovi cons avg, Jupiter-Neptune standing left, wielding thunderbolt and trident, sc in left field (PAS FASAM-3A2380, same rev. die; RIC –; S –). Good very fine, struck on a full flan with some original silver wash remaining, a rare and important coin £800-£1,000

Provenance: Found in Essex (PAS ESS-133F68).

Unlisted in RIC, this exceptional reverse is known only from one other example. That coin, which features a right facing bust on the obverse, was considered a coin of ‘national importance’ and is now in the British Museum. This specimen, which is clearer and better preserved, offers a significant opportunity for private collectors to acquire a coin of great numismatic importance.

Carausius, who derived much of his power as leader of the breakaway British empire from his naval strength, frequently deployed images of Neptune or his divine attributes on coinage. The image here, which conflates the attributes of Neptune with those of Jupiter Conservator, represents a modification of the common iovi cons reverse type, employed frequently by Carausius’ imperial rivals