Lot 2564
Carinus, AD 283-285. AE Medallion (32.50 mm; 20.17 g) minted as Caesar by Carus, AD 282-283. Laureate, cuirassed and draped bust right of Carinus. Reverse: The Three Monetae. Cohen 58; cf. Trau auction (22 V 35), lot 3221 for a similar specimen from the same dies. Tooled to remove encrustations. Details of Extremely Fine.
Whether it's termed a medallion, medaille, medaglione or simply medal, the entire class is rare. The Three Monetae grace the most common reverse type of medallions struck in the AD third century, with each of the mint's special goddesses being in charge of coinage in one of the metals used — bronze, silver and gold. Like contemporary medals, often there was no real relationship to the regular coinage denominations.
We believe Roman medallions were struck for notable mint visitations and gifts for special services rendered (such as to provincial rulers and victorious generals). There are a number of coins which have an outstanding artistic quality inherent in medallions. This rare class of coins is sometimes termed "pseudo-medallions," and often exhibit larger than normal flans with wonderful detailing and modeling. There were artistic culminations in Roman mint products; in the series of medallions, Antoninus Pius and Hadrian minted some of the most beautiful, with Commodus striking a great diversity and perhaps the largest total number of these masterworks from ancient Rome.
Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000.
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| Realized $3,450 |
