Extremely Rare 1st Issue of Carus

402, Lot: 564. Estimate $300. Sold for $500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Carus. AD 282-283. Antoninianus (22mm, 4.25 g, 6h). Ticinum mint. 1st emission, September/October AD 282. IMP C M AVR CARVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VIRTV-S AVG, Virtus standing right, holding spear and shield; no mintmark. Unpublished. Good VF, much silvering remaining, light deposits. Extremely rare.

This coin is from the earliest issue of coins of Carus at Ticinum, the mint closest to the emperor at the time of his accession. The first emission actually consists of two phases, the first without, and the second with, a mintmark. Coins with both spellings of Carus' name, KARVS and CARVS, are known for both phases, which proves that they were on coins issued concurrently, not consecutively (it was originally thought that the "Greek" name was on earlier issues, and the "Latin" name was used after corrected dies were made). Based on the fact that the unmarked coins are known from aurei and antoniniani, D. Gricourt (Venèra Hoard, vol. IV), following K. Pink, thinks this coinage constituted an inaugural, donative issue in celebration of Carus' accession.

Coins from the unmarked phase are extremely rare. Only four antoniniani are known: (1) Venèra 242, with VICTORIA AVG reverse; (2) CNG E-83, lot 237, with ABVNDANTIA AVG reverse; (3) the present coin; and (4) a coin from the same dies as the present coin previously in the stock of CGB in Paris.