Carinus, Bronze Antoninianus

Carinus, Bronze Antoninianus

Carinus, Bronze Antoninianus. Siscia mint, August to November 284 CE.
OBVERSE: IMP C CARINVS P F AVG (Imperator Caesar Carinus Pius Felix Augustus), radiate and cuirassed bust right.
REVERSE: VOTA PVBLICA (public vow), Carinus and Numerian sacrificing over altar between them; two standards behind; SMSXXIB in exergue.

Carinus and Numerian were the sons of Carus. Carus and his younger son, Numerian, were to the rule the Eastern provinces and Carinus, the older son, was the rule the western. Carinus was successful militarily, but soon faced usurpation of the throne by two others: Julian of Pannonia and Diocletian. Carinus defeated Julian easily and, though forcing a surrender of Diocletian in a later battle, was soon after murdered by one of his own officers in a personal vendetta - leaving the way to the throne open for Diocletian.

We see the two sons of Carus making a sacrifice on the reverse of this coin. The standards and religious themes work to support the legitimacy of their and their father’s rule.

Gift of James and Aneta McIntyre, Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Salem, OR. 2006.010.047

284 CE

Hallie Ford Museum of Arts

0.865 in
0.130 oz

Latin

Coin

This item can be viewed on Hallie Ford Museum of Art's website.