Carinus augustus, 283 – 285.
Aureus 284, AV 4.55 g. IMP CARINVS P F AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. VIRTV – S AVG Hercules standing r., leaning on club covered with lion's skin set on rock. C 160 var. (not draped). RIC 233 var. (not cuirassed). Calicó 4395a. Very rare and in exceptional condition for this interesting issue. A lovely portrait and an interesting reverse composition, virtually as struck and almost Fdc Ex Hess-Leu 41, 1969, 517; Leu 50, 1990, 326; Tkalec 23 October 1992, 425 and NAC 78, 2014, 1115 sales.

Graded Ch AU Strike 5/5 Surface 4/5, NGC certification number 6030744-008.

Carinus is, perhaps, one of the underrated evil-doers of the Roman Empire. If the words of the historian Eutropius are of any value, this emperor's reputation was terrible: "He put to death very many innocent men on false charges, seduced the wives of nobles and even ruined those of his school fellows who had taunted him at school, even with trivial banter." (Breviarium IX.19). The histories are persistent about his seemingly insatiable desire for women. The Historia Augusta reports that he was married and divorced nine times, and that he abandoned some of his wives while they were pregnant. We must, of course temper our view, as it is a fact that history is written by the victor. Considering Carinus was overthrown by Diocletian, who subsequently ruled with unquestioned supremacy for two decades, we might suspect that Carinus was unfairly maligned to add greater justification for the revolt of Diocletian who, after all, was little more than just another usurper when his army hailed him emperor against the legitimate emperor Carinus.