{"product_id":"carus-roman-antoninianus-ad-282-283-ngc","title":"Ancient Roman Coin of Emperor Carus (Short-Reigned Emperor Before Diocletian)","description":"\u003ch4\u003eOwn a Silver Coin from the Emperor Struck Dead by Lightning — or So the Story Goes\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA real silver-washed bronze antoninianus of Carus — the career soldier who defeated the Sarmatians, invaded Persia, reached the Sasanian capital of Ctesiphon, and died during a violent thunderstorm in AD 283 in the most theatrically legendary imperial death of the entire Third Century. NGC certified.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e✓ \u003cstrong\u003eNGC Certified\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n✓ \u003cstrong\u003eGuaranteed Authentic\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n✓ \u003cstrong\u003e30-Day Returns\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e⚡ Ancient sources record that Carus \u003cstrong\u003edied during a violent thunderstorm\u003c\/strong\u003e on campaign in Persia — a death later writers interpreted as divine judgment, making it one of Rome's most legendary imperial endings\u003cbr\u003e\n⚔️ Reverse depicts \u003cstrong\u003eVictory, Mars, or Roman virtue personifications\u003c\/strong\u003e — military strength and divine favor from an emperor who pushed Rome's eastern frontier to Ctesiphon itself\u003cbr\u003e\n🤲 Struck \u003cstrong\u003eAD 282–283\u003c\/strong\u003e — just 16 months of reign from a soldier-emperor whose dramatic death left two sons to inherit a fragile empire. NGC certified.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOwn This Piece of History\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eWhy This Coin Matters\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCarus came to power in \u003cstrong\u003eAD 282\u003c\/strong\u003e in the standard Crisis-era manner — his troops proclaimed him emperor after the murder of Probus, and the Senate had no realistic option but to accept the proclamation. He was a career military commander of considerable competence, and he moved immediately to demonstrate it. His first campaign against the \u003cstrong\u003eSarmatians\u003c\/strong\u003e on the Danube frontier was swift and successful. Then he turned east.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eSasanian Persian Empire\u003c\/strong\u003e had been the eastern nightmare of Roman emperors since Shapur I captured Valerian in AD 260. Carus marched into Mesopotamia with an army that had been hardened by years of frontier campaigning and pushed deeper into Persian territory than any Roman force since Trajan. He captured \u003cstrong\u003eSeleucia and Ctesiphon\u003c\/strong\u003e — the Sasanian capital — a military achievement that would have been extraordinary in any era, let alone the Crisis of the Third Century. Ancient sources report that he was preparing to push even further east when fate intervened.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe accounts of his death are dramatic and deliberately ambiguous. During a violent thunderstorm near Ctesiphon in \u003cstrong\u003eAD 283\u003c\/strong\u003e, Carus died — the circumstances immediately contested. Some sources say he was struck by lightning, a death that writers interpreted as divine punishment for pushing beyond the bounds Rome was meant to occupy. Others suggest illness, accident, or assassination concealed by the storm. The theatrical quality of the death — a conquering emperor struck down by heaven at the moment of his greatest triumph — proved irresistible to ancient storytellers. His sons \u003cstrong\u003eCarinus and Numerian\u003c\/strong\u003e inherited his fragile achievement and proceeded to lose it. This silver-washed antoninianus was struck during his 16 months of reign — currency from one of Roman history's most dramatically ended reigns. Certified by \u003cstrong\u003eNGC\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003ePerfect for:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCollectors of late Crisis era, short-reign emperors, and Roman silver-washed bronze antoniniani\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistory lovers drawn to Carus, the Persian campaign, and Rome's most legendary imperial death\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVictory and Mars reverse types, eastern campaign coinage, and NGC certified late 3rd century silver enthusiasts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone seeking a coin from the emperor whose death by lightning — real or legendary — became one of Rome's most enduring imperial stories\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat You'll Receive\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne authentic silver-washed bronze antoninianus of Carus\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDenomination: \u003cstrong\u003eAntoninianus\u003c\/strong\u003e (silver-washed bronze — standard late 3rd century coinage)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNGC certified\u003c\/strong\u003e for authenticity and preservation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStruck \u003cstrong\u003eAD 282–283\u003c\/strong\u003e — similar to examples shown (each coin is unique)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eBuy with Confidence\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuaranteed authentic ancient coin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCarefully sourced and verified\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e30-day return policy\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSecure shipping from the U.S.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eNew to Ancient Coins?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStart your journey here: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/kinzercoins.com\/collections\/im-new-to-ancient-coins\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#ffffff;\"\u003ekinzercoins.com\/collections\/im-new-to-ancient-coins\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kinzer Coins","offers":[{"title":"VG","offer_id":51235101311282,"sku":null,"price":35.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"F","offer_id":50904335515954,"sku":"SQ6940045","price":61.1,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"VF","offer_id":50904335548722,"sku":"SQ4885796","price":74.1,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"XF","offer_id":50904335581490,"sku":"SQ5892864","price":87.1,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"AU","offer_id":50904335614258,"sku":"SQ9107495","price":100.1,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0970\/6202\/7570\/files\/ancient-roman-coin-of-emperor-carus-short-reigned-emperor-before-diocletian-9003170.webp?v=1771883959","url":"https:\/\/kinzercoins.com\/products\/carus-roman-antoninianus-ad-282-283-ngc","provider":"Kinzer Coins","version":"1.0","type":"link"}