Diocletian, 284-305. Antoninianus (Bronze, 24 mm, 3.61 g, 6 h), uncertain mint ('C' mint/Camulodunum?), struck under Carausius, circa 291-293. IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS AVG Radiate and cuirassed bust of Diocletianus to right. Rev. PAX AVG / S - P / C Pax standing front, head to left, holding olive branch in her right hand and long scepter in her left. Cohen -. RIC -. RIC V.5 3564 (3 examples recorded). Webb -. Extremely rare. Somewhat rough and with minor die breaks on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine.



The antoniniani of Carausius struck for Diocletian and Maximian usually bear a reverse legend ending in AVGGG - a subtle hint that he presented himself as a third Augustus. Pieces that, like ours, end simply in AVG are considerably rarer. Since these coins can be attributed to Carausius only on the basis of style and mintmarks, their propagandistic intent remains unclear. They may have been struck for specific purposes that are now lost to us.