Obverse: IMP C CARAVSIVS P F AVG, Radiate and cuirassed bust of Carausius facing right.

Reverse: PAX AVG, Pax standing left, holding olive branch and vertical sceptre, S-C in field.

Sear: 13646. RIC: v, ii, p. 504, 475.. [Colchester, AD 291-292].

Diameter: 26 mm. Weight: 4.3 g.

A wonderful billon antoninianus of Carausius minted in Colchester during his brief reign - between AD 286-293. The story of Carausius and Allectus is one of the most remarkable in the history of Roman Britain, and it also has a few parallels with the current political climate. Carausius was of very humble origins, and as a young man he had earned his living as a sailor. Later when he joined the Roman army, his naval skills proved a valuable asset. By the mid 280's he had risen high in the ranks, and was given command of the Channel fleet, with the task of confronting the Frankish and Saxon pirates who were raiding the coasts of southern Britain and northern Gaul. Carausius saw this as an easy opportunity for personal enrichment and, rather than attacking the pirates before they raided, he would wait until afterwards when their boats were laden with booty. As soon as emperor Maximian heard of this betrayal, he ordered the arrest and execution of the rebel. Carausius however, was pre-warned and set sail from Boulogne with the entire Channel fleet, taking Britain by force and annexing off the island province. Carausius, the original Brexiteer, managed to rule as emperor of Britain for the next seven years until Allectus, his chief minister, assassinated him and took the province for himself. A fantastic example struck on a massive flan with a detailed portrait.