CARAUSIUS & ALLECTUS I

The Romano-British Empire (A.D. c.287-296)
Carausius (A.D. c.287-293) and Allectus (A.D. 293-296)
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		Early Issue of Carausius Overstruck on an Antoninianus of Tetricus I R6114 - The 'Romano-British Empire', Carausius (A.D.287-293) Bronze Antoninianus, 2.04g., 22mm, overstruck on an antoninianus of Tetricus I (A.D. 270-273), London mint (unmarked), draped radiate bust right, rev., Pax standing left, holding olive branch and vertical specter, PAX AVG, early issue struck on a small flan, overstrike clearly visible. $495 NOW $295 The profile of the Tetricus I bust clearly seen on the reverse of the Carausian coin, likewise the standing fugure of the host coin can be seen in the rays of Carausius's crown. The small flan size and style of this issue would indicate it was struck in the early period following the initial rebellion. This coin and others like it show that the rebel regime in it's haste to produce sufficient coinage was actively overstriking the most common coinage to hand, that of the last rebel regime, the Gallo-Roman empire.
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R6071 - The 'Romano-British Empire', Carausius (A.D.287-293) propaganda issue struck in the name of Maximianus, 1st reign, (A.D. 286-305), Bronze Antoninianus, 3.90g., London mint, cuirassed radiate bust right, IMP C MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, rev., Pax standing left, holding olive branch and vertical sceptre, PAX AVGGG AVG, S P in field, mintmark MLXXI in exergue (RIC 34), very fine, some rough surfaces, rare. $325
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RB200 - The 'Romano-British Empire', Carausius (A.D.287-293) propaganda issue struck in the name of Maximianus, 1st reign, (A.D. 286-305), Bronze Antoninianus, 3.53g., London mint, cuirassed radiate bust right, IMP C MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, rev., Pax standing left, holding olive branch and vertical sceptre, PAX AVGGG AVG, S P in field, mintmark MLXXI in exergue (RIC 34), very fine, some rough surfaces, rare. $195 NOW $125
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RB109 - The 'Romano-British Empire', Carausius (A.D.287-293) Bronze Antoninianus, 3.78g., 'C' or 'G' mint (possibly Colchester, Gloucester or Cirencester), IMP C CARAVSIVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, rev., SPES PVBL, Spes walking left holding flower and raising robe, in exergue C or G, ( cf RIC 411, no control marks in field), weakly struck in parts otherwise extremely fine, rare. $175
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Carausius Obverse Brockage

R718 - The 'Romano-British Empire', Carausius (A.D.287-293), Obverse Brockage, Bronze Antoninianus, 5.84g., London or 'C' or 'G' mint, draped, cuirassed and radiate bust right, IMP CARAVSIVS P F AVG, extremely fine, dark patina, an interesting mint error. $425 NOW $195
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RB74 – ROMAN BRITAIN, Allectus, (A.D. 293-296), Bronze Quinarius, 2.50g., 'C' or ‘G’ mint (Colchester?, Cirencester?, Gloucester?), IMP C ALLECTVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right, rev., VIRTVS AVG, galley with four oarsmen and mainmast right, QC or QG in exergue, (RIC 130), almost very fine. $295

Historical Background M. Aurelius Mausaeus Carausius was the naval commander in charge of the fleet charged with combating the threat of Frankish and Saxon pirates in the English Channel and the North Sea. Following allegations of piracy leveled against him by the emperor Maximianus, he proclaimed himself emperor in Britain and a small enclave in northern France. His innovative and varied coinage is a testament to his ability to hold together a separatist regime in Britain for six years until his murder by his own subordinate Allectus in A.D. 293. A master propagandist, as his coin types also reflect; he unilaterally assumed membership of Diocletian's collegiate government and even issued coins in the names of his fellow emperors at his two mints in Britain.

Claudius to Commodus	Severan Campaigns	Carausius and Allectus	The London Mint under the Tetrarchy and Constantine I

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