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The Roman Empire

Carinus caesar, 282 – 283. Aureus, Siscia ? 282-283, AV 4.30 g. M AVR CARINVS NOB CAES Laureate and cuirassed bust l., r. hand raised; the lorica decorated with aegis. Rev. VICTO –RIA AVG Victory standing l. on globe, holding wreath, palm-branch and trophy (?). C –, cf. 199 for reverse (wreath and trophy). RIC –, cf. 190 for reverse (wreath and trophy). Calicó –.
Apparently unique and unrecorded. A spectacular and unusual portrait, the work of a very
skilled master engraver, wonderful reddish tone. Virtually as struck and almost Fdc

Ex Tkalec sale 9 February 2005, 368 (illustrated on the front cover page).
This aureus was struck in AD 282 to celebrate the elevation of Carinus to the status of Caesar (i.e. junior emperor) by his father, the emperor Carus. As Caesar, Carinus was charged with defending the western provinces while Carus prosecuted a remarkably successful war against the Sasanian Persians. Carinus is known to have inflicted defeats on the Germanic Quadi while serving as Caesar, which may account for the military flavor of the obverse type and the depiction of the victoriola on the reverse.
Carinus is shown wearing a full breastplate adorned with a gorgoneion on the chest, which gives him a much more heroic appearance than the scaled cuirass he normally wears on his coinage. The engraver has done a masterful job of picking out the details of the rivets, the drapery, and the tassels at the ends of the shoulder pteruges. Curiously, he has made a mistake in the treatment of the hand. While Carinus appears to extend his left arm, the hand at the end giving the salute is actually his right hand.
The victoriola was a statue of Victory on a globe that symbolized the power and prestige that devolved upon an emperor following the defeat of the enemy. In later Roman coin iconography deities - most frequently Jupiter - are shown bestowing the victoriola on the emperor.
While the coin presents the auspicious beginning of Carinus' imperial career, things quickly began to fall apart. In AD 283, Carinus celebrated a triumph in Rome and was elevated to the status of Augustus to rule in partnership with his father. Later that year Carus died in the East from either disease or a lightning strike, leaving Carinus and his younger brother Numerian, behind. Numerian had been campaigning alongside his father in the role of Caesar, but became Augustus upon his death. However, Numerian's new title lacked power over the army and the soldiery forced him to give up the Persian campaign, which had already sacked the Sasanian capital at Ctesiphon, and begin the long march home. On the way, Numerian fell ill and died under suspicious circumstances, leaving the cavalry commander Diocletian to take up the imperial purple for himself.
When Carinus learned of these events, he immediately assembled an army and marched against Diocletian. The forces of Carinus and Diocletian met at the Margus River in Moesia to decide the fate of the Empire. According to one account, the forces of Carinus fought well against Diocletian, but were broken when Carinus was suddenly assassinated by a military tribune seeking revenge for the seduction of his wife. Others report that Carinus was deserted by his army, thereby granting Diocletian total victory. The hapless Carinus was killed and his name and image was ordered stricken from all monuments in the proceeding known as damnatio memoriae.