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Auction: 5020 - The Ivan Buck Collection and Other Properties
Lot: 592

Carausius (A.D. 286-293), AR Denarius, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, imp caravsivs p f avg, rev., felicita avg, galley on waves, mast, four rowers; in exergue, rsr (RIC 560; Webb 610), some deposition, heavily toned, very fine Estimate £ 1,200-1,400The mint of this coin is unknown. The rsr in exergue could indicate the mint as being Rutupiae (Richborough, Kent), but Webb ("The Reign and coinage of Carausius", Num. Chron., 1907) defends the hypothesis these coins were struck in London. Anyhow, these letters could also mean Rationalis Summae Rei ("financial minister", see La Bedoyere´s comments in "Carausius and the marks rsr and inpcda", NC, 1998, p. 80). But La Bedoyere reads Redeunt Saturnia Regna (a quote from Vergil, Eclogues, IV.6-7: Redeunt Saturnia Regna, Iam Nova Progenies Caelo Demittitur Alto, "the Golden Age returns, now a new generation is sent down from heaven above").

Sold for
£2,400