Carinus became Caesar along with his brother Numerian soon after their
father, Carus, arrived to the throne. When war broke out with the Persians,
Carus elevated both sons and all three held the same title. Carus took Numerian
along with him to war and both perished leaving him as the sole surviving
emperor. He was a hated emperor with sources citing unprovoked murders within
the Senate and entertained in every sordid vice he could indulge without any
care of the welfare of anyone else. His brief reign recalled all the hated
excesses of Gallienus of some twenty years before. In fact, Gibbon, the most
famous Roman historian, summarizes that "...he displayed to the Romans the
extravagancies of Elagabalus, aggravated by the cruelty of Domitian." Soon a
usurper arose, Diocletian, whom he confronted in battle and just as he seemed to
emerge victorious he was slain by one of his own soldiers who had an unrelated
score to settle with him.
|
|
|
|
AE Antoninianus 282--285 A.D.
22 mm.
Obv. IMP CARINVS PF AVG: Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev. FELICIT PVBLICA: Felicitas standing left, leaning on a column, XXI in exergue
C. 24, Van Meter 7
|
|
|
|
AE Antoninianus 282--285 A.D.
21 mm.
Obv. IMP C M AVR CARINVS PF AVG: Radiate and cuirassed bust right
Rev. VIRTVS AVGG: Carinus receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter, TR in lower center
field, XXI in exergue
C. 184, Van Meter 24 |
|
|
|
AR Antoninianus 282--285 A.D.
Tripolis 283--284 A.D.
4.49 g., 22 mm.
Obv. IMP C M AVR CARINVS P F AVG: Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev. VIRTVS AVGG: Emperor standing right, holding scepter and receiving Victory on globe
from Jupiter
RIC V 329, c, 184, Van Meter 24 |
|
|
