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January Signature Sale 3089 21-22 Jan 2021
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Ancients
Carinus, as Augustus (AD 283-285). AV aureus (20mm, 4.35 gm, 12h). NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 4/5. Siscia, AD 284. IMP C CARIN-VS P F AVG, laureate, cuirassed bust of Carinus right, seen from front / VICT-ORIA AVG, Victory advancing left, wreath in outstretched right hand, palm cradled in left arm. RIC V.II 312. Calicó 4369. Remarkably prooflike, with needle sharp details throughout.
Though hardly a household name like Caligula or Nero, Carinus is held as one of Rome's most sinister emperors - a despoiler of women and corrupter of youth, who got his just desserts at the hands of a jealous husband. Born in around AD 250, Carinus was in his early 30s when his father, the respected general Carus, seized power in a coup against the Emperor Probus, in AD 282. With two grown sons, Carus named Carinus and his younger brother Numerian as joint Caesars, in October AD 282. With the Roman Empire threatened on every front, Carinus departed for Gaul to battle Germanic invaders while his father and Numerian headed east to deal with the Persians. Carinus returned to Rome in mid-AD 283, where he celebrated a triumph and was hailed as Augustus, making him co-equal with his father. But Carus died only a few months later while on campaign in Persia later in the year, and the dynasty that had once looked so secure began to crumble. As the Eastern army marched back toward Roman territory, Numerian fell ill and died under suspicious circumstances, late in AD 284. Instead of declaring its loyalty to Carinus, the eastern army acclaimed the general Diocletian as emperor. Carinus mustered his own forces and advanced on Diocletian's eastern army, with the climactic clash coming in midsummer at Margum, near modern-day Belgrade. The legions of Carinus gained the upper hand and seemed on the verge of victory. When he was suddenly stabbed to death by one of his own officers, whose wife Carinus had reportedly seduced. All fighting ceased and Diocletian was acclaimed as undisputed emperor, ushering in a new era of Roman history.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-carinus-as-augustus-ad-283-285-av-aureus-20mm-435-gm-12h-ngc-choice-ms-5-5-4-5/a/3089-31067.s?type=CoinArchives3089
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 40000-60000 USD
Carinus, as Augustus (AD 283-285). AV aureus (20mm, 4.35 gm, 12h). NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 4/5. Siscia, AD 284. IMP C CARIN-VS P F AVG, laureate, cuirassed bust of Carinus right, seen from front / VICT-ORIA AVG, Victory advancing left, wreath in outstretched right hand, palm cradled in left arm. RIC V.II 312. Calicó 4369. Remarkably prooflike, with needle sharp details throughout.
Though hardly a household name like Caligula or Nero, Carinus is held as one of Rome's most sinister emperors - a despoiler of women and corrupter of youth, who got his just desserts at the hands of a jealous husband. Born in around AD 250, Carinus was in his early 30s when his father, the respected general Carus, seized power in a coup against the Emperor Probus, in AD 282. With two grown sons, Carus named Carinus and his younger brother Numerian as joint Caesars, in October AD 282. With the Roman Empire threatened on every front, Carinus departed for Gaul to battle Germanic invaders while his father and Numerian headed east to deal with the Persians. Carinus returned to Rome in mid-AD 283, where he celebrated a triumph and was hailed as Augustus, making him co-equal with his father. But Carus died only a few months later while on campaign in Persia later in the year, and the dynasty that had once looked so secure began to crumble. As the Eastern army marched back toward Roman territory, Numerian fell ill and died under suspicious circumstances, late in AD 284. Instead of declaring its loyalty to Carinus, the eastern army acclaimed the general Diocletian as emperor. Carinus mustered his own forces and advanced on Diocletian's eastern army, with the climactic clash coming in midsummer at Margum, near modern-day Belgrade. The legions of Carinus gained the upper hand and seemed on the verge of victory. When he was suddenly stabbed to death by one of his own officers, whose wife Carinus had reportedly seduced. All fighting ceased and Diocletian was acclaimed as undisputed emperor, ushering in a new era of Roman history.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-carinus-as-augustus-ad-283-285-av-aureus-20mm-435-gm-12h-ngc-choice-ms-5-5-4-5/a/3089-31067.s?type=CoinArchives3089
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 40000-60000 USD