How to Identify the Antoninianus of Carinus
A collector's guide to spotting a Carinus antoninianus by its radiate portrait, reverse figure, bronze fabric, and mint marks.
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Begin with the obverse portrait. A genuine antoninianus of Carinus shows a male bust facing right wearing a radiate crown of pointed spikes, not a laurel wreath. Read the encircling legend for the name CARINVS, most often IMP C M AVR CARINVS P F AVG or the shorter IMP CARINVS P F AVG; the presence of that name is what firmly attributes the coin to Carinus rather than to a look-alike radiate of another late-third-century emperor.
Next study the reverse. Expect a single standing or seated figure, a deity or personification holding identifying attributes: Fides with two standards, Aequitas with scales and cornucopia, Providentia with a wand and globe, Pax with an olive branch, or the emperor holding a globe and scepter. The reverse legend names the type, so matching the figure's attributes to that legend is the key attribution step.
Check the physical coin. Diameter should fall roughly in the 20-23 mm range with a weight near 3-4.5 grams, and the fabric is bronze rather than silver. A brown, dark, or patchily silvered surface is completely normal for this period; traces of the original silver wash may survive in protected areas of the design. A bright, heavy, all-silver piece would be out of character and deserves scrutiny.
Use the mint marks. Late radiates like this one usually carry small letters in the reverse field or in the exergue below the figure, recording the mint (for example Rome, Siscia, Ticinum, or Antioch) and the officina, or workshop. These marks help pin down where the coin was struck and are useful for distinguishing genuine issues from crude imitations.
Watch for look-alikes and fakes. Radiates of Carinus's father Carus, his brother Numerian, and neighboring emperors share the same format and reverse types, so always confirm the obverse name before attributing the coin. Cast copies betray themselves with a seam around the edge, surface bubbles, and soft, mushy lettering, whereas genuine coins are struck with crisp detail. When authenticity or value matters, compare the exact obverse and reverse legends and mint mark against a standard reference such as RIC.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to attribute this coin to Carinus?
Read the obverse legend for the name CARINVS and confirm the radiate crown; that combination identifies his antoninianus, after which the reverse legend names the specific type.
Why is my coin brown instead of silver?
The antoninianus of this era is bronze with only a thin silver wash, so a brown or dark surface with patchy silvering is normal and is not a sign of a fake.
What do the small letters on the reverse mean?
They are mint marks in the field or exergue that identify the mint and workshop that struck the coin, and they are helpful for precise attribution.
Could this be a coin of Carus or Numerian instead?
Yes, close relatives and contemporaries used the same radiate format and reverse types, so always verify the emperor's name in the obverse legend before attributing it.