Antoninianus - Carausius Pax; Barbarous Overstrike
| Bronze | 2.3 g | 19 mm |
| Issuer | Uncertain barbarous city (Rome) |
|---|---|
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 286-287 |
| Value | 1 Antoninianus |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 2.3 g |
| Diameter | 19 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-04 |
| Numista | N#332083 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 95% |
Reverse
Pax standing left holding branch and sceptre. Nothing in fields or exergue
Script: Latin
Lettering: PAX AVG
Comment
An early issue of Carausius struck in Britain, possibly London. In the 'The Unmarked Coins of Carausius', CE King suggests many of Carausius's unmarked coins were overstruck on earlier coins, usually those of Victorinus or Tetricus. "Some of the overstrikes are barbarous in style while others are much less so. Therefore it is not possible to classify all overstrikes as unofficial but it seems clear that some of them are."Interesting fact
The Antoninianus coin , which features Carausius and the goddess Pax, is considered a "barbarous overstrike" because it was produced by a barbarian tribe, possibly the Goths or Vandals, who overstruck an existing Roman coin with their own design. This practice was common during the 3rd century AD, when many barbarian tribes were producing their own coins by overstriking existing Roman coins. The fact that this coin was produced in this way makes it a unique and interesting piece of history.
