ROMAN COINS OF THE LONDON MINT: 286-325 AD

Constantius, RIC Vol. VI (Londinium) No. 22 ..... Constantius, RIC Vol. VI (Londinium) No. 110
Header Images - Representative Coins

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THE USURPERS - CARAUSIUS & ALLECTUS

The following is only a brief summary of the historical background surrounding the exploits of the Usurper Augusti of Secessionist Britain and their involvement in the production of coinage at the British mints they controlled. Check the references at the bottom of this page for more detailed information.

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CARAUSIUS:

The political and military turmoil of the third century spawned numerous external assaults on the Roman Empire. One of these was the incessant seafaring piracy in the waters surrounding the Roman occupied island outpost of Britain. In 286 AD Maximian, in his capacity as Tetrarch Augustus of the West, designated a highly regarded military commander named Marcus Aurelius Mausaeus Carausius, of Flemish descent, to head a fleet of ships who's mission was to eliminate, or at least severely curtail, this piracy. Carausius had distinguished himself by outstanding leadership and military prowess, especially as a naval "Admiral", in the Gallic campaigns.

IMP C CARAVSIVS PF AVG ...................................................... PAX -- AVG
Carausius
Marcus Aurelius Mausaeus Carausius
Usurper Augustus of Secessionist Britain: 287 - 293 AD

Carausius did indeed accomplish his mission, but reports of corruption and extortion led Maximian to dispatch a fleet of ships to British waters in order to remove Carausius from command. However, Carausius proved too strong and he repulsed the attack. Carausius subsequently landed in the north of Britain, secured the support of the native Picts and, advancing south, confronted and defeated the forces of the Roman Governor. Having thus conquered the Island, he proclaimed himself Augustus of a Secessionist Britain becoming an effective and efficient Administrator using the Roman Imperial governmental framework as a model.

Carausius established his own mints at London (Londinium), Colchester/Camulodunum/Clausentum (uncertain) and across the Channel at Rotomagus (Rouen) which began to produce coins of distinctive style in Gold, Silver and Copper. PAX was a common reverse on coins of this period.

Carausius attempted to assert his equality with -- and acceptance as a co-Augusti by -- the legitimate Diarchal Augusti, Diocletian and Maximian, by issuing a series of Antoninianus coins in their names and including the titulature AVGGG (the three Augusti) as part of the reverse legend.

IMP C DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG ......................................... PAX AVGGG
Carausius
Issued in the name of Diocletian by Carausius

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ALLECTUS:

In AD 293 Caius Allectus, the chief Minister/Praetorian Prefect of Carausius, conspired to assassinate him and thereupon declared himself Augustus of Secessionist Britain.

IMP C ALLECTVS PF AVG ...................................................... PAX -- AVG
Allectus
Caius Allectus
Usurper Augustus of Secessionist Britain: 293 - 296 AD

Allectus continued operation of the London and Colchester/Camulodunum/Clausentum (uncertain) mints and coins were issued in his name and bearing his portrait. In addition to the silver washed copper Antoninianus of Carausius, Allectus issued a copper coin of reduced size bearing the letter Q in the exergue which has been interpreted to mean Quinarius

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After an uneasy Interregnum Constantius, Tetrarch Caesar of the West, led a powerful naval force into the English Channel in 296 AD with the goal of removing Allectus from power. This Constantius did, one of his lieutenants killing Allectus during a land engagement, thus restoring Britain to the Roman Empire.

Medallion (replica) commemorating the restoration of Britain to the Roman Empire
Bronze replica of Arras Hoard multiple 10 Aurei specimen ( RIC Vol. VI, Treveri - No. 34)

FL VAL CONSTA -- NTIVS NOBIL CAES ..... R -- EDDITOR LVCIS -- AETERNA -- E

The above medallion commemorates the event -- on the reverse the personification of London kneels outside the City Fortification and supplicates to Constantius (on horseback) while a galley containing Roman soldiers waits on the river Thames (?).

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Footnotes:

• A common reverse on the Aes coins of both Usurper Augusti was the depiction of PAX (Peace) in the form of a draped personification holding a scepter in her left arm and extending an olive branch held in her right hand.
• The Tetrarchs subsequently re-opened the London Mint (AD 296) -- now as an official facility with one officina (workshop) -- after Britain was restored to the Empire. This mint continued to operate under succeeding Tetrarchs and the Constantinians until 325 AD.

References:

• Carausius & Allectus - an excellent Reference Page by Ken Elks.
• Carausius (286-93) - another great Reference by Guy de la Bedoyere.
• Carausius - an Introduction - by "mauseus".

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. Include my name as original author.

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