Coins Catalog  

Main
Home
Coin Identification
Coin List
Coin Forgeries

Indexes
Roman Nobilities
Glossary of Terms
Denominations
Coin Grading
Rarity

Information
Links

Copyright / TOS
Privacy Policy
About Us

  


Carus
Augustus
AD 282 - 283

AE Antoninianus
Rome mint: AD 282-283

Coins Catalog ID: 3006

click image to expand Image courtesy of: Galleria Antiquarica
Sales Description
Obverse: IMP C M AVR CARVS P F AVG - Radiate bust right, cuirassed
Reverse: VIRTVS AVGG - Virtus standing left, leaning shield and holding spear
Mint marks: 
exergue - KA[Gamma]
References: 
RIC, vol. V ii, p.140, 45

Carus - Marcus Aurelius Carus (ca AD 230 - 283): Father of Carinus nad Numerian; Father-in-low of Magnia Urbica; Grandfather of Nigrinian. AD 282 - 283 - Sole reign AD 283 - with Carinus and Numerianus

Mints: Alexandria, Antioch, Cyzicus, Lugdunum, Rome, Siscia, Ticinum, Tripolis.

Biography: It is unclear what prompted the troops led by Carus, then a praetorian prefect, to proclaim him emperor in the middle of a campaign that the titular ruler, Probus was waging in September 282. As it happened, the force sent by Probus to deal with the problem deserted and Probus was then murdered by his own soldiers. An ominous sign for the future was the fact that Carus did simply announce to the Senate his elevation by the army, without even requesting official recognition. He did not lack military capability and his first deed, even before setting out to Rome, was the repulsion of a combined attack by Sarmatians and Quadi, which reportedly cost the invaders sixty thousand men. His luck followed him on a subsequent expedition to Mesopotamia during which Carus was able crush the Persians and take the capital Ctesiphon almost without opposition. Then, in July 283, while preparing a further incursion east, he was found death in his tent, most probably by the hand of the praetorian prefect Arrius Aper.

List all Carus coins in the Catalog.

Search Carus coins in our Shopping Mall.

« back


Copyright © 1999 - 2024 Coinscatalog.com All rights reserved.
All trademarks and logos are © of their respective owners.