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Carus – 282-283 AD

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Carus

Carus Ostia Museum 300x256

Ostia Museum

282 – 283 AD


Marcus Aurelius Carus was the Prefect of the Praetorian Guard under Probus. Upon the Emperor’s death, Carus was proclaimed Emperor by the troops. He immediately conferred the rank of Caesar on his two sons Carinus and Numerian, and set out on an expedition against the Persians. Numerian accompanied his father to the East leaving Carinus behind to govern the Western provinces.

Carus AE Antoninianus Jugate with Carinus 300x208

Bahram II 276 293AD AV DinarCarus was successful in defeating the Sassanid/Persian forces driving them back once again in complete disorder. The Sassanid King Bahram II (276-293AD) was not completely in charge as there were internal conflicts verging on civil war within the Sassanid Empire. Bahram’s troops occupied modern-day Afghanistan at that time. They could not effectively defend his territory against a Roman invasion. The Sasanians, faced with severe internal problems, could not mount an effective coordinated defense.

Carus and his army probably even captured the Sasanian capital of Ctesiphon. These victories of Carus avenged the previous defeats suffered by the Romans against the Sassanids, which included the capture of Valerian I back in 260AD. For this victory, Carus received the title of Persicus Maximus (Conquerer of Persia).

However, before Carus could begin to follow up on his victory, he was killed by lightning in his camp near Ctesiphon within Persian territory late in 283AD. Thus, Carus was succeeded by his two sons.


Monetary System

Carus Denominations Aureus Double Antoninianus Antoninianus Denarius 1024x920

Mints: Rome; Lugdunum; Ticinum; Siscia; Cyzicus; Antioch; Tripolis; unidentified mint.

Obverse Legends:

IMP CARVS P F AVG.
IMP C M AVR CARVS P F AVG


DENOMINATIONS

AU Aureus
Æ DOUBLE Antoninianus 4.7-4.9 grams (Jugate bust with Sol)
Æ Antoninianus (Jugate bust with Carinus)
Æ Antoninianus (3.5-3.8 grams)
Æ Denarius (2.4 grams)
Æ Denarius (with Carinus)
Æ Quinarius (1.94 grams)
Æ As (5.29 grams)
Æ Semis


Egypt

Carus Egypt Tetradrachm 300x191
Æ Tetradrachm, Egypt (8.27 grams)


Posthumous Coinage Issued by Carinus

Carus DIVO Denominations Aureus Antoninianus

AU Aureus
Æ Antoninianus (3.5-3.8 grams)


Monetary History of the World
© Martin A. Armstrong