Caesar, A.D. 282-283
Augustus, A.D. 283-285
Billon Antoninianus
Tripolis mint
Obv: IMP C M AVR CARINVS NOB C
Rev: VIRTVS AV-GG[dot] - Jupiter, on right, leaning on scepter, presenting globe to Carinus, holding spear
XXI in exergue; [star] in upper field, TR in lower
RIC 209
22mm, 3.6g.
Carinus was appointed Caesar by his father, Carus, and left in charge of the western part of the Empire while his father and brother, Numerian, went off to fight wars in the East. He was a skilled general, and achieved military victories against the Germans and the Britons. After the deaths of first Carus and then Numerian, Carinus went to battle against one of Numerian's generals, Diocletian, whose troops proclaimed him emperor. He might have defeated Diocletian, had he not been murdered by one of his own soldiers, who, the story goes, acted out of jealousy after Carinus had supposedly seduced his wife.
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