The North Yorkshire Moors Collection of British Coins formed by Marvin Lessen Part I

Carausius (286-293), Carausius, Diocletian and Maximian, Antoninianus, ‘C’ mint, 292-3, jugate, radiate and cuirassed busts of the three emperors left, caravsivs et fratres svi, rev. pax avggg, Pax standing left, holding olive branch and vertical sceptre, s p in field, [c] in exergue, 3.53g (Shiel, BNJ 1978, this coin not listed, but same rev. die as no. 10 [BM]; RIC 1; Sear 13772; S 682). Fair, very rare £300-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The North Yorkshire Moors Collection of British Coins.

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Provenance: K.J.J. Elks Collection [acquired Spink October 1969]; bt Spink 24 October 1969.

These coins, which have intrigued numismatists for over 250 years, are an attempt by Carausius to align himself with Diocletian and Maximian as his ‘brother emperors’ when these latter saw him as nothing but a usurper. Some 25-30 specimens are known, mostly from find-spots in central Southern England and from East Anglia. A notable recent addition to the canon of known examples is the well-patinated coin found near Woodbridge, Suffolk, in November 2017 (Lockdales Auction 152, 27-8 January 2018, lot 1903)