Sale: Triton VII, Lot: 1034. Estimate $15000.  Closing Date: Monday, 12 January 2004.  Sold For $14500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CARINUS. 283-285 AD. AV Aureus (4.42 gm). Rome mint. Struck November 284 AD. IMP CARINVS P F AVG, laureate and mantled bust left, holding eagle-tipped sceptre in right hand / VICTOR-IA AVG, Victory walking left, holding wreath in extended right hand, palm in left. RIC V -; Pink -; Hunter -; Calicó 4381 (same dies); Cohen -. FDC. Extremely rare; only one published example known. [See color enlargement on plate 19] ($15,000)

The singular form of AVG on the reverse implies that this aureus was struck in the period after Numerian's death, when Carinus ruled alone. It may have been associated with a series of bronze asses, denarii, and quinarii with these same legends and reverse type were issued in Rome late in 284 AD, subsequent to Numerian's death (cf. RIC V 275, 280, and 286; Pink VI/2, pg. 38).