Carus. AD 282-283. AV Aureus (20mm, 4.59 g, 12h). Rome or Ticinum mint. 1st emission, October AD 282. Laureate and cuirassed bust right / PAX A ETERNA, Pax advancing left, holding olive branch and scepter. RIC V 31 (Rome); Pink VI, 2 p. 27, series I (Ticinum); Calicó -, cf. 4269 (bust draped and cuirassed). Flan slightly bent, repaired in fields before face and above head, likely ex jewelry. VF. LOT SOLD AS IS, NO RETURNS.
From the Conti Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 436 (23 January 2019), lot 707.
A very rare variety. Cohen and RIC lists this aureus type for Carus as cuirassed, with no drapery. The only example of this reverse type depicted in Calicó, no. 4269, shows a draped and cuirassed bust, noting that the RIC and Cohen citations "omit draped bust" (suggesting the omission was in error). There are four other Carus aurei with this reverse on CoinArchives and are likewise all draped. This coin confirms that RIC and Cohen are correct in identifying a variety without drapery.