The George W. La Borde Collection of Roman Aurei Part I
THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Carus, 282 – 283
Aureus, Cyzicus circa 282, AV 4.60 g. IMP C M AVR CARVS P F AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. VICTORI A – VG Victoria in biga galloping l., holding wreath in r. hand and palm in l. In exergue, crescent. C 83. RIC 116 var. (without drapery). Calicó 4283 (this obverse die).
Rare and one of better preserved aurei of Carus in existence. A perfect Fdc
Provenance
Inventory of Jonathan Kern (Lexington, KY), sold in October 2006.

The late 3rd Century A.D. was a time of great opportunity for aspiring soldiers, especially those who hailed from Illyria. A series of soldier-emperors, beginning with Claudius II ‘Gothicus’ in 268 and ending with Julian II of Pannonia in 285, claimed the throne for varying lengths of time. A successful emperor in this period lasted five or six years; usurpers often ‘reigned’ for only a month or two. One of the more productive emperors of the era was Marcus Aurelius Probus, formerly the commander of Tacitus’ armies in the east. But like Aurelian before him, Probus’ record of accomplishment was cut short when he was murdered by his soldiers. Filling his boots was Marcus Aurelius Carus, Probus’ prefect who was hailed emperor by his own soldiers. Carus’ regime differed from those of the previous six legitimate emperors, as he hailed from Gaul rather than Illyria, and he had two grown sons with whom he could share his burden. Carus took immediate advantage of the situation: he left his eldest son Carinus in command of the west as he marched eastward with his younger son Numerian to conduct the Persian campaign originally planned by Probus. En route they defeated the Quadi and Sarmatians, and in 283 they sacked the Sasanian capital Ctesiphon. Their great success came to a grinding halt, however, when Carus was discovered dead. Ancient historians tell us he died from a lightening strike, but modern historians are understandably suspicious, and most consider his death to have been a murder by his prefect Aper. Coins of this era vary considerably in style from mint to mint, as this coin, struck at Lugdunum in modern France, attests.