Augustus, A.D. 282-283
Billon Antoninianus
Antioch mint
Obv: IMP C M AVR CARVS P F AVG
Rev: VIRTVS A-VGG - Carus, standing on left, facing right, holding parazonium in left hand and receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter, nude, standing on right, facing left and holding scepter in left hand.
XXI in exergue; [star] in upper field, A in lower.
RIC 106
21mm, 4.0g.
Carus was declared emperor by his troops after the assassination of Probus. Whether or not he played a hand in the plot is unclear. His reign was short-lived. The story is that he was struck by lightning while on campaign against the Persians, but the term “lightning” may be merely a metaphor.
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