Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 125 23-24 Jun 2021
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Allectus usurper in England, 293-296.
Aureus, Londinium 293, AV 4.55 g. ALLECT – VS P F AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. PA – X – AVG Pax standing l., holding branch and transverse sceptre; in exergue, M L. C 30 var. A. Burnett, The Coinage of Allectus, pl. 2, 1 (this coin). RIC 7. Depeyrot 4/12 (this coin illustrated). Calicó 4795.
Extremely rare. An impressive portrait and a lovely light reddish tone,
reverse slightly off centre, otherwise good very fine
Ex Warne 1899, 133; Rollin & Feuardent 1909, J.E. collection, 307; Naville-Ars Classica 17, De Sartiges, 491; M&M 12, 1952, 856; Hess-Leu 1956, 420; Hess-Leu 17, 1961, 384 and NAC 33, 2006, 585 sales.
Another rebel about whom few details survive is Allectus, a highly placed member of the revolutionary government founded by Carausius in Britain in 286 or 287. Allectus came to power in 293 by arranging the murder of his former master, who had just returned to Britain after having lost vital seaports on the Gaulish coast to the newly appointed Caesar, Constantius I. It is known that Allectus' three or four-year reign was repressive, as ancient chroniclers record that he "miserably oppressed the Britons and afflicted them with manifold disasters." Unlike his predecessor, Allectus was to meet his end in battle against the prefect, Asclepiodotos, whom Constantius had placed in command of the southern wing of a naval invasion. But the usurper did not die until, having retreated to London, he had the opportunity to see Constantius' fleet sailing up the Thames and landing soldiers on shores of London itself. If we believe the ancient sources, the return of Imperial control in Britain was welcomed by its inhabitants.
In AD 286, a Roman naval officer named Carausius declared himself a breakaway emperor in Britannia and Gaul in opposition to Diocletian and Maximian. Carausius retained his independent empire until the formation First Tetrarchy in AD 293 gave the western Caesar Constantius I Chlorus authority to campaign against him. By AD 296, Carausius had lost much of Gaul and the important port of Bononia (Boulogne). These losses of territory also caused Carausius to lose the faith of the army and led his treasurer, Allectus, to murder him. With the disappointing Carausius out of the way, Allectus then assumed the title of usurping Emperor for himself.
Despite the advances of Constantius and the loss of Bononia, coin finds suggest that Allectus continued to wield some power in Gaul as well as in Britannia although this was very fleeting. In September AD 296, Constantius equipped a fleet at Bononia, and crossed the English Channel to bring war to Allectus at home. Under Constantius' Praetorian Prefect, Julius Asclepiodotus, the forces of Allectus were forced to withdraw from the coast and were defeated in battle, probably at Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester). Allectus was killed in the fighting after having removed all imperial insignia in the hope that he would not be identified if he fell in the battle.
The reverse type of the present aureus, no doubt struck as part of a donative to the army, is more than a little ironic in its advertisement of "Augustan Peace." How peaceful could it have been considering that Allectus had become Augustus through murder and from the outset of his reign he had the forces of Constatius at his gate ready to knock it down and put an end to his short-lived empire. The type may encapsulate what everyone was hoping for, but it certainly did not exist in reality.
Aureus, Londinium 293, AV 4.55 g. ALLECT – VS P F AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. PA – X – AVG Pax standing l., holding branch and transverse sceptre; in exergue, M L. C 30 var. A. Burnett, The Coinage of Allectus, pl. 2, 1 (this coin). RIC 7. Depeyrot 4/12 (this coin illustrated). Calicó 4795.
Extremely rare. An impressive portrait and a lovely light reddish tone,
reverse slightly off centre, otherwise good very fine
Ex Warne 1899, 133; Rollin & Feuardent 1909, J.E. collection, 307; Naville-Ars Classica 17, De Sartiges, 491; M&M 12, 1952, 856; Hess-Leu 1956, 420; Hess-Leu 17, 1961, 384 and NAC 33, 2006, 585 sales.
Another rebel about whom few details survive is Allectus, a highly placed member of the revolutionary government founded by Carausius in Britain in 286 or 287. Allectus came to power in 293 by arranging the murder of his former master, who had just returned to Britain after having lost vital seaports on the Gaulish coast to the newly appointed Caesar, Constantius I. It is known that Allectus' three or four-year reign was repressive, as ancient chroniclers record that he "miserably oppressed the Britons and afflicted them with manifold disasters." Unlike his predecessor, Allectus was to meet his end in battle against the prefect, Asclepiodotos, whom Constantius had placed in command of the southern wing of a naval invasion. But the usurper did not die until, having retreated to London, he had the opportunity to see Constantius' fleet sailing up the Thames and landing soldiers on shores of London itself. If we believe the ancient sources, the return of Imperial control in Britain was welcomed by its inhabitants.
In AD 286, a Roman naval officer named Carausius declared himself a breakaway emperor in Britannia and Gaul in opposition to Diocletian and Maximian. Carausius retained his independent empire until the formation First Tetrarchy in AD 293 gave the western Caesar Constantius I Chlorus authority to campaign against him. By AD 296, Carausius had lost much of Gaul and the important port of Bononia (Boulogne). These losses of territory also caused Carausius to lose the faith of the army and led his treasurer, Allectus, to murder him. With the disappointing Carausius out of the way, Allectus then assumed the title of usurping Emperor for himself.
Despite the advances of Constantius and the loss of Bononia, coin finds suggest that Allectus continued to wield some power in Gaul as well as in Britannia although this was very fleeting. In September AD 296, Constantius equipped a fleet at Bononia, and crossed the English Channel to bring war to Allectus at home. Under Constantius' Praetorian Prefect, Julius Asclepiodotus, the forces of Allectus were forced to withdraw from the coast and were defeated in battle, probably at Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester). Allectus was killed in the fighting after having removed all imperial insignia in the hope that he would not be identified if he fell in the battle.
The reverse type of the present aureus, no doubt struck as part of a donative to the army, is more than a little ironic in its advertisement of "Augustan Peace." How peaceful could it have been considering that Allectus had become Augustus through murder and from the outset of his reign he had the forces of Constatius at his gate ready to knock it down and put an end to his short-lived empire. The type may encapsulate what everyone was hoping for, but it certainly did not exist in reality.