The
Quinquegentiani (People of the Five Tribes) were a
confederation of Berbers in North Africa. They were
under Roman rule, but rebelled in A.D. 289 and were
successful for a few years until Maximianus Herculius
launched a series of devastating attacks starting in
A.D. 296-297 and finishing in A.D. 298, after which, the
Quinquegentiani were never heard of again. "On 10 March
(A.D. 298) Herculius entered Carthage in triumph after
the completion of his African campaign" (RIC VI pg 23)
History makes little mention of the Quinquegentiani--
“Maximianus Augustus, too, ended the war in Africa by
crushing the Quinquegentiani and compelling them to make
peace.” (Eutropius pg 62)
The coinage from Carthage struck during this period
references the campaign against the Quinquegentiani as
the mint was only opened because of the war. When
Maximianus arrived in Carthage sometime in 296- 297, he
needed to open a mint to have funds to pay for the war.
The types struck in Carthage were also specific to the
city and not struck anywhere else in the Empire. The
coin type commonly struck throughout the Empire at this
time was the GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, a type which Carthage
did not even strike. The coins that Carthage minted were
specific to the city of Carthage and current events,
like FELIX ADVENT AVGG NN and SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS
(AVCTA) (FEL) KART which all reference the campaign and
demonstrate how grateful the citizens of Carthage were
to Maximianus for their salvation from the
Quinquegentiani.
"The reverses of either kind, are to be referred to
Herculius' presence in Africa, his successes against the
Quinquegentiani, and in particular his final and
triumphal prescence in Carthage itself, where he was in
residence as late as March 298." (RIC VI pg 415)
Trier also issued a type which referenced these events-
the FORTVNAE REDVCI reverse "these should echo the
successful termination of Constantius' Rhenish campaigns
by 299 and of Herculius' African campaign (followed by
his visit to Rome) in 298" (RIC VI pg 149)
In A.D. 306, Maxentius took control of Carthage and
continued to strike the SALVIS type; but he also struck
some new reverse types that I believe also reference the
victory over the Quinquegentiani. Maxentius struck these
in the names of all the rulers, but most importantly, in
the name of his father—Maximianus Herculius. This was an
attempt by Maxentius to remind the people of Carthage
who he was related to and that they perhaps owed him
also. The types were CONSERVATORES KART SVAE and
CONSERVATORES AFRICAE SVAE
some notes on Carthage style
"The fact that the mint of Carthage was established in
sudden connection with military needs explains its
reflection of the style of Rome in its portraiture- it
would have been natural that models should be supplied
from Rome to Carthage- and perhaps also the rapid
sequence of aes issues. But, although Carthage may have
drawn on Roman portrait models and certainly borrowed
from Rome a system of officina- marking which assigned
formal seniority to the four rulers, the types used by
Carthage in all three metals were peculiar to
herself...Genio Populi Romani never appears at Carthage,
either during the first tetrarchy or later. Moreover, in
contrast to the strong, neat style of the Roman- derived
obverses, the reverse of Carthage coins show a
treatment, much less skilled or sophisticated, which
appears to mark them out as the products of local
engravers little touched by metropolitan influences."
(RIC VI)
Another particular aspect is that these Carthage issues
usually have a ragged flan, due to the way they were
cast. At all the mints, flans were cast; but at Carthage
they were cast more roughly. They seem to have been sand
cast or perhaps rough clay moulds were used by Carthage
mint workers.
Maxentius shut down the mint at Carthage in A.D. 307,
but it was re-opened during the revolt of Domitius
Alexander for a few years (A.D. 308- 311) before
Maxentius defeated him. After Constantine defeated
Maxentius in A.D. 312, there was no more need for a mint
in Carthage, and it never re-opened during the
Constantinian period.
The first
Tetrarchy-- Group 1
A.D. 296- 305
Augustii-- Diocletian, Maximianus
Caesars-- Constantius I, Galerius
FELIX
ADVENT AVGG NN -- The welcome arrival of our Emperors
Some of these coins
have an H or an I in the reverse fields. These are the
first letter of the names of the Roman gods Hercules
and Jupiter (Jove). Diocletian and Maximianus claimed
lineage with the gods- Diocletian was in the family of
Jupiter and Maximianus was in the family of Hercules.
Their respective Caesar was also related to the
deity.
"Where now are the surnames of the Jovii and the
Herculii, once so glorious and renowned among the
nations; surnames insolently assumed at first by
Diocles and Maximian, and afterwards transferred to
their successors?" Lactantius LII
Carthage also struck some fractional bronze coinage--
VOT X (for Caesars) and VOT XX (for Augustii) circa A.D. 303 to celebrate
anniversaries. These coins have an FK on the reverse
for FELIX KARTHAGO-- Happy Carthage.
The workshops at Carthage are assigned in an orderly
fashion, with the first workshop going to most senior
ruler and so on. At
first (during A.D. 296) there were three workshops
(P,S,T) and the Caesars shared the third workshop.
Shortly a fourth workshop (Q) was added, which was
used for the junior Caesar. The use of Roman numbered
workshops (Prima, Secunda, Tertia, Quarta) stopped in
A.D. 297, and Carthage started using Greek numbers for
the four workshops-- A,B, Γ Δ, still assigning
workshops based on seniority. So for the first
Tetrarchy (Group 1), the order was Diocletian (A),
Maximianus (B), Constantius (Γ) and
Galerius (Δ). For Group 2 the order was
Constantius (A), Galerius (B), Severus (Γ),
and Maximinus (Δ). This pattern continues
until A.D. 306 and then there are only a few
exceptions-- some abdication issues with PROVIDENTIA
DEORVM QVIES AVGG types and some of the issues under
Maxentius in Group 4.
Diocletian
Diocletian
A.D. 297
26mm 9.1g
IMP DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; laureate head right.
FELIX ADVENT AVGG NN; Africa standing left,
holding labarum and tusk; at feet, lion with
captured bull, in left field A
in ex. PKP
RIC VI Carthage 21a
Ex Rauceby Hoard 2017
Diocletian
A.D. 297- 298
26mm 8.4gm
IMP DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; laureate head right.
FELIX ADVENT AVGG NN; Africa standing left, holding
labarum and tusk; at feet, lion with captured bull,
in left field I
in ex. PKP
RIC VI Carthage 23a
Diocletian
A.D. 297- 298
26x29mm 9.4g
IMP DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; laureate bust right.
FELIX ADVENT AVGG NN; Africa standing left, holding
labarum and tusk; at feet, lion with captured bull,
in right field I.
In ex. PKA
RIC VI Carthage 25a
Diocletian
A.D. 303
22x23mm 3.4g
IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; Radiate, draped and
draped bust at right.
VOT XX FK; three lines in wreath.
RIC VI Carthage 37a
Maximianus
Maximianus
A.D. 297- 298
27x28mm 8.3g
IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate head right.
FELIX ADVENT AVGG NN; Africa standing left, holding
labarum and tusk; at feet, lion with captured bull,
in left field H.
in ex. PKS
RIC VI Carthage 23b
Maximianus
A.D. 297- 298
26x29mm 10.4gm
IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate head right.
FELIX ADVENT AVGG NN; Africa
standing left, holding labarum and tusk; at feet,
lion with captured bull, in
left field H.
in ex. PKB
RIC VI Carthage 25b
Maximianus
A.D. 297- 298
25x28mm 9.7g
IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate head right.
FELIX ADVENT AVGG NN; Africa standing left, holding
labarum and tusk; at feet, lion with captured bull,
in right field H.
in ex. PKB
RIC VI Carthage 25b
Maximianus
A.D. 303
22x23mm 2.3g
IMP C MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; Radiate and draped bust
at right.
VOT XX FK; three lines in wreath.
RIC VI Carthage 37b
Constantius
I
Constantius I
AD 296- 298
AR Argenteus
18mm 2.7g
CONSTANTIVS CAES; Laureate head right
F ADVENT AVGG NN; Africa standing facing, head left,
holding standard and tusk; at her feet, lion
standing left, head right, with bucranium to left.
In ex. T
RIC VI 14a
Ex-Charles Oman collection
Constantius I
A.D. 297
26x28mm 9.1g
CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES; laureate head right.
FELIX ADVENT AVGG NN; Africa standing left, holding
labarum and tusk; at feet, lion with captured bull,
in left field Γ.
In ex PKT
RIC VI Carthage 22a
Constantius I
A.D. 297- 298
26x28mm 8.4g
CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES; laureate head right.
FELIX
ADVENT AVGG NN; Africa standing left, holding
labarum and tusk; at feet, lion with captured
bull, in left field H.
In ex
PKΓ
RIC VI Carthage 26a
Constantius I
A.D. 297- 298
27x28mm 10.0g
CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES; laureate head right.
FELIX ADVENT AVGG NN; Africa standing left, holding
labarum and tusk; at feet, lion with captured bull,
in right field H.
In ex PKΓ
RIC VI Carthage 26a
Constantius
I
A.D. 303
Ӕ fraction
20x22mm 2.6g
FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB C; Radiate, draped and
cuirassed bust right.
VOT X FK; three lines in wreath.
RIC VI Carthage 35a
Galerius
Galerius
A.D. 297
28mm 9.4g
MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES, Laureate bust right.
FELIX ADVENT AVGG
NN; Africa standing left, holding labarum
and tusk; at feet, lion with captured bull; Δ in left field.
In ex. PKQ
RIC VI Carthage 22b
Galerius
A.D. 297-298
30mm 9.6g
MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES, Laureate bust right.
FELIX ADVENT AVGG NN; Africa standing left, holding
labarum and tusk; at feet, lion with captured bull;
I in left field.
In ex. PKQ
RIC VI Carthage 24b
Galerius
A.D. 297-298
28x29mm 9.7g
MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES, Laureate bust right.
FELIX ADVENT AVGG NN; Africa standing left, holding
labarum and tusk; at feet, lion with captured bull;
I in left field.
In ex. PKΔ
RIC VI Carthage 26b
Galerius
A.D. 297-298
26mm 10.3g
MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES, Laureate bust right.
FELIX ADVENT AVGG NN; Africa standing left, holding
labarum and tusk; at feet, lion with captured bull;
I in right field.
In ex. PKΔ
RIC VI Carthage 26b
Galerius
A.D. 303
Ӕ fraction
20x22mm 2.7g
GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB C; Radiate, draped and
cuirassed bust right.
VOT X FK; three lines in wreath.
RIC VI Carthage 35b
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS (AVCTA) (FEL)
KART -- With the Emperor and Caesars being safe,
happy Carthage is strengthened.
Some of the references below have
two RIC numbers. That is because RIC breaks up this issue by
portrait head size. Numbers 29-30 are smaller and 31- 32 are
larger. In the footnotes though, RIC states "Elmer, N.Z.
1932, divided this issue into two sections, with portraits
small or less small and with Carthago thin or
larger--distinctions which are very difficult to maintain.
It is likely that, if the issue was of any duration, these
differences came about to some extent by natural variation
and development." So, these coins should not have been given
separate RIC numbers as it is too hard to differentiate
them; which is why they are catalogued like Carthage 29a/31a
below.
Carthage is described as holding fruits in both hands,
though sometimes it looks like grain. Sometimes it seems to
be a combination of both. The fruit/ grain is usually held
dangling from the hands, but sometimes points up, like a
stalk of grain. Sometimes one hand holds the object pointed
up and the other hand holds it pointed down.
Diocletian
A.D. 298-303
27x29mm 9.3g
IMP DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; Laureate head right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing
facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands.
In ex. A
RIC VI Carthage 29a/31a
Maximianus
Maximianus
A.D. 298- 303
26x29mm 9.3g
IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; Laureate head right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS AVCTA KART; Carthage standing
facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands.
In ex. B
RIC VI Carthage 27b
Maximianus
A.D. 298-303
28mm 10.4g
IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; Laureate head right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing
facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands.
In ex. B
RIC VI Carthage 29b/31b
Maximianus
A.D. 303
27mm 11.2g
IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; Laureate head right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing
facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands; H
in left field.
In ex. B
RIC VI Carthage 33b
Constantius
I
Constantius I
A.D. 298- 299
26x28mm 10.00g
CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES; laureate head right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS AVCTA KART; Carthage standing
facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands.
In ex Γ
RIC VI Carthage 28a
Constantius I
A.D. 298- 303
26x27mm 8.4g
CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES; laureate head right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing
facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands.
In ex Γ
RIC VI Carthage 30a/ 32a
Constantius I
A.D. 298- 303
27mm 9.2g
CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES; laureate head right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing
facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands.
In ex Γ
RIC VI Carthage 30a/ 32a
Constantius I
A.D. 303
30mm 9.0g
CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES; laureate head right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing
facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands; H
in left field.
In ex Γ
RIC VI Carthage 34a
Ex-Lindgren
Galerius
Galerius
A.D. 298- 303
27x30mm 8.6g
MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES; laureate head right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing
facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands.
In ex. Δ
RIC VI Carthage 30b/32b
Galerius
A.D. 298-303
25x28mm 9.5g
MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES; laureate head right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing
facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands.
In ex. Δ
RIC VI Carthage 30/32b
The 2nd
Tetrarchy-- Group 2
A.D. May 305- July 306
Augusti-- Constantius I, Galerius
Caesars-- Severus, Maximinus II
Seniors-- Diocletian, Maximianus
Constantius
I
Constantius I
A.D. 305- 306
26x27mm 11.4g
IMP CONSTANTIVS P F AVG; Laureate head right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing
facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands; H
in left field.
In ex. A
RIC VI Carthage 39a
Galerius
Galerius
A.D. 305- 306
26x31mm 7.9g
IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate head right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing
facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands; I
in left field.
In ex. B
RIC VI Carthage 39b
Severus II
Severus II
A.D. 305- 306
27x31mm 10.4g
FL VAL SEVERVS NOB CAES; Laureate head right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing
facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands; H
in left field.
In ex. Γ RIC VI
Carthage 40a
Maximinus II
Maximinus II
A.D. 305- 306
28mm 8.0g
GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB CAES; laureate head right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing
facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands;
I in left field.
In ex.
Δ
RIC VI Carthage 40b
Group 3
A.D. July 306- Nov 306
Augusti-- Galerius, Severus
Caesars-- Maximinus II, Constantine I
Seniors-- Diocletian, Maximianus
Galerius
Galerius
A.D. 306
26x28mm 8.5g
IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; Laureate head right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing
facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands; I
in left field.
In ex. A
RIC VI Carthage 43a
Galerius
A.D. 306
29mm 8.9g
IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; Laureate head right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing
facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands; I
in left field.
In ex. A
RIC VI Carthage 43a
Severus II
Severus II
A.D. 306
28mm 10.7g
IMP SEVERVS P F AVG; Laureate head right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing
facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands; H
in left field.
In ex. B
RIC VI Carthage 43b
Constantine I
Constantine I
A.D. 306
28x29mm 8.8g
FL VAL CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES; laureate head facing
right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthago standing
facing, head left in long robe, holding fruits in
both hands. H in left field.
In ex. Δ
RIC VI Carthage 44b
Group
4
A.D.
Nov 306- mid 307
Augusti--
Maximianus,
Maxentius
Caesars--
Maxentius,
Maximinus II,
Constantine I
Maximianus
Maximianus
A.D. 307
24x25mm 6.5g
IMP MAXIMIANVS SEN AVG; laureate head right.
CONSERVATORES KART SVAE; Carthage standing facing,
head left, holding fruits in both hands, within
hexastyle temple with plain pediment.
In ex. PKA
RIC VI Carthage 59
Maxentius
Maxentius
A.D. 306
28mm 10.1gm
M AVR MAXENTIVS NOB CAES; Laureate head right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing
facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands; H
in left field.
In ex. Δ
RIC VI Carthage 51a
Maxentius
A.D. 307
28mm 9.6g
IMP MAXENTIVS P F AVG; Laureate head right.
CONSERVATOR AFRICAE SVAE; Africa standing facing,
head left, in long drapery with elephant skin
headdress, right holding standard, left tusk, at
feet to left lion with captured bull, in right field
I.; SE in left field, F in right.
In ex.
Γ
RIC VI Carthage 57
Maxentius
A.D. 307
25mm 6.6g
IMP MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head right.
CONSERVATO-RES KART SVAE; Carthage standing facing,
head left, holding up fruits, within hexastyle
temple with unadorned pediment;
In ex. PKB
RIC VI Carthage 60
Maximinus II
Maximinus II
A.D. 305- 306
25x28mm 9.6gm
GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB CAES; laureate head right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing
facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands; I
in left field.
In ex. B
RIC VI Carthage 51b
Constantine
I
Constantine I
A.D. 306- 307
25x26mm 9.3g
FL VAL CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES; laureate head facing
right.
SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthago standing
facing, head left in long robe, holding fruits in
both hands. H in left field.
In ex. Γ
RIC VI Carthage 51c
Constantine I
A.D. 306-307
27mm 9.4g
FL VAL CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES; laureate head right.
CONSERVATOR AFRICAE SVAE; Africa standing facing,
head left, in long drapery with elephant skin
headdress, right holding standard, left tusk, at
feet to left lion with captured bull, H-ER across
fields.
In ex. Δ
RIC VI Carthage 55
This coin has several reasons why it is special--
1. It's Constantine as Caesar. Maxentius was trying
to ally with Constantine by issuing coins for him;
though he was merely awarded the title of Caesar.
Maxentius also gave Constantine the last workshop,
reserved for most junior. This is also the issue
that Maxentius changed his title to Augustus. So,
this issue was actually a bit insulting to
Constantine, meant to remind him he was most junior.
2. This series is tough to find...RIC says it is
"rare to very rare"
3. The reverse legend for this type with the
personification of Africa changes from FELIX ADVENT
AVGG NN to CONSERVATOR AFRICAE SVAE
4. The fields have H ER for Hercules. The three
rulers represented in this series were Maximianus,
Maxentius and Constantine; who were all in the
family of Hercules. None of these coins were struck
for Maximinus, who was in the family of Jupiter.
Constantine I
A.D. 307
27x28mm 7.8g
FL VAL CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES; laureate head right.
CONSERVATOR AFRICAE SVAE; Africa standing facing,
head left, in long drapery with elephant skin
headdress, right holding standard, left tusk, at
feet to left lion with captured bull, in right field
I.; S in left field, F in right.
In ex.
Δ
RIC VI Carthage --; Drost 24
Constantine I
A.D. 307
28mm 8.7g
FL VAL CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES; laureate head right.
CONSERVATOR AFRICAE SVAE; Africa standing facing,
head left, in long drapery with elephant skin
headdress, right holding standard, left tusk, at
feet to left lion with captured bull, in right field
I.; SE in left field, F in right.
In ex.
Δ
RIC VI Carthage 58
Constantine I
A.D. 307
24x25mm 6.3g
CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES; laureate head right
CONSERVATORES KART SVAE; Carthage standing facing,
head left, holding fruits in both hands, within
hexastyle temple
with plain pediment.
In ex. PKΔ RIC VI
Carthage 61
Constantine I
A.D. 307
26mm 6.9g
CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES; laureate head right
CONSERVATORES KART SVAE; Carthage standing facing,
head left, holding fruits in both hands, within
hexastyle temple
with plain pediment.
In ex. PKΔ RIC VI
Carthage 61