Carinus Roman Billon Antoninianus (AD 283-285) NGC

Own a certified Roman Billon Antoninianus of Carinus (AD 283–285), authenticated and slabbed by NGC. This coin reflects the final chaotic years before Diocletian’s rise and the transformation of the Roman Empire.

Carinus was the elder son of Emperor Carus and was appointed Caesar in 282 AD, later becoming co-emperor alongside his brother Numerian in 283 AD. He governed the western provinces while his father and brother campaigned in the East. After the deaths of Carus and Numerian — likely under suspicious circumstances — Carinus briefly ruled alone.

However, his reign quickly deteriorated. Ancient sources portray Carinus as corrupt and decadent, although later historians debate the accuracy of these accounts, suspecting that much of his reputation was tarnished after his defeat. In 285 AD, during a power struggle with the rising general Diocletian, Carinus was killed by his own troops in an army coup.

Following his death, Carinus suffered Damnatio Memoriae — the official Roman condemnation of memory. His name and that of his wife were erased from inscriptions, and efforts were made to remove him from the historical record, a fate reserved for the most disgraced rulers.

Billon Antoniniani of Carinus typically feature his radiate-crowned bust on the obverse, with reverses celebrating Roman virtues, military victories, or imperial legitimacy.

Certified by NGC, this Billon Antoninianus offers collectors a rare piece from the volatile final years of Rome’s Third Century Crisis — just before the sweeping reforms of Diocletian reshaped the empire’s future.