Aureus of the Roman emperor Carausius

Roman

British Museum

circa 290 AD

Gold coins of Carausius are extremely rare. This coin is one of only 25 known. The other examples are spread across a variety of British and European museums and a few are in private hands. This coin was struck at the mint of London, the main mint for Carausius. Therefore, this coin is a truly British object, from a period when Britannia was the core of a small break-away state from the Roman Empire. This coin will further enhance the British Museum's collection of 5 other gold pieces of Carausius. The other coin discovered at the same site has been acquired by Derby Museum with Art Fund help.

• Medium: gold
• Dimensions: diameter: 2cm
• Art Fund Grant: £43500 ( Total: £145,000)
• ArtFunded in: 2009
• Vendor: Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Provenance

Discovered in Ashbourne, Derbyshire and declared Treasure in 2008.

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