Carinus, as Augustus (AD 283-285). AV aureus (19mm, 4.82 gm, 11h). NGC MS 5/5 - 3/5, brushed. Siscia, AD 287. IMP C M AVR CARINVS P F AVG, laureate, cuirassed bust of Carinus right, seen from front, slight drapery on left shoulder / ABVNDANTIA AVGG, Abundantia standing facing, head left, emptying cornucopia to left. Calicó 4341 var. (different obv. legend). RIC V.II -, cf. 308 (same). Extremely rare variety with only two other examples in sales archives. A stunning example with clean, simple designs and a handsome portrait. Ex Bolaffi Spa, Auction 41 (26 May 2022), lot 479; Künker, Auction 273 (14 March 2016), lot 919. 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 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. HID09801242017 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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