Sale: Triton VI, Lot: 1075. Estimate $3000.  Closing Date: Monday, 13 January 2003.  Sold For $6500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CARAUSIUS, DIOCLETIAN and MAXIMIANUS. 287-293 AD. Æ Antoninianus (3.43 gm). Camulodunum (Colchester) mint. Struck circa 292 AD. CARAVSIVS ET FRATRES SVI, jugate radiate and cuirassed busts of Maximianus, Diocletian, and Carausius left / VICTORI AVGGG, Victory walking right, holding long palm branch and wreath; SPC in exergue. RIC V -; Shiel, "Carausius et Fratres Sui," BNJ 48 (1978) 1; cf. Carson, "Carausius et Fratres Sui: A Reconsideration," in SPNO 2. Good VF, rough jade green patina. Rare and a unique variety. ($3000) 

This is the only coin of this rare type known for the issue with SPC in the exergue. Carson believes that it was during this issue that Carausius ended his ruse of legitimacy alongside the other emperors, Diocletian and Maximianus (Carson, “Carausius et Fratres Sui... Again,” in Mélanges Bastien, pp. 145-148). During the course of this issue, these jugate bust types ended, as did their concomitant types, those issued in the names of Diocetian or Maximianus and those with reverse legends ending in the plural, AVGGG. Additionally, in this series, this reverse variety, with Pax holding a palm and wreath, are only known on coins with the legends COMES AVGGG and VICTORIA AVGGG.