Carus, 282-283. Aureus (Gold, 20 mm, 4.64 g, 1 h), Siscia, October 282-January 283. IMP C M AVR CARVS P F AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Carus to right. Rev. VICTO-RIA AVG Victory standing left on globe, holding wreath in her right hand and palm frond in her left. Calicó 4285a. Cohen 84. RIC 95. An exceptional example, surely one of the finest aurei of Carus known. Perfectly struck on a broad flan and with very attractive mint luster. A few very faint marks on the reverse, otherwise, virtually as struck.


Carus was appointed prefect of the Praetorian Guard by Probus and succeeded to the throne after the latter had been murdered in Sirmium by revolting troops in the summer of 282. Emboldened by the death of the belligerent Probus, Iazygan forces soon crossed the Danube and started raiding Roman Pannonia. Carus, however, who was residing in the nearby base of Sirmium, quickly disabused the invaders by winning a decisive victory and repulsing them over the Danube in early 283. The present aureus commemorates this resounding victory, which greatly strengthened the position of Carus and his attempts to found a new dynasty. A few months later, Carus and his younger son Numerian led a successful offensive against the Sasanids, resulting in the sack of the Persian capital Ktesiphon in the summer of 283. Unfortunately for the Romans, the victorious emperor died in July or August near Ktesiphon - allegedly due to a lightning strike, but perhaps more likely due to illness or an assassination planned by his Praetorian prefect Lucius Flavius Aper - and his son Numerian withdrew the army to Syria.