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The Legionary Antoninianus of Allectus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2011

N. Shiel
Affiliation:
New University of Ulster, Coleraine, Co. Derry

Extract

Carausius struck legionary coins, mostly in a very base silver alloy but also in good silver; only one specimen, however, of such a coin struck by Allectus is recorded. This piece was found during excavations at South Shields in 1880, and a woodcut illustration together with initial publication of its discovery may be found in Archaeologia Aeliana. Since that time mention has been made of this coin in various other journals and works but I can find no other attempts to illustrate it. The photograph of the coin (PL. XXVIII A) proves that it was faithfully recorded in the initial instance and undoubtedly represents a legionary antoninianus of Allectus:

Type
Articles
Information
Britannia , Volume 4 , November 1973 , pp. 224 - 226
Copyright
Copyright © N. Shiel 1973. Exclusive Licence to Publish: The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies

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References

1 Arch. Ael. (2nd ser.) x (1885), 301.

2 Num. Chron. 1885, p. 249; Cohen (2 ed., Paris 1885-8), Allectus No. 24; Num. Chron. 1906, p. 139; Num. Chron. 1924, p. 68; RIC v pt. 2, p. 447 and Allectus No. 24.

3 RIC 60: LEG. PARTH. Fitzwilliam: B. M.

4 Carausius honours Legio II Augusta, stationed in Britain, and Legio II Parthica stationed in Gaul, from which he presumably had detachments.

5 Num. Chron. 1924, p. 68.

6 RIC v pt. 2, pl. xv, No. 4.

7 Num. Chron. 1944, pl. iv, No. 15.

8 The possibility of these pieces being struck after the death of Allectus is thought so unlikely that no formal argument is here made against it.

9 For Notitia references and fuller discussion of this point cf. M. G. Jarrett, ‘Legio II Augusta in Britain’, Arch. Camb. 1964, pp. 58 ff.