Unique Hybrid

444, Lot: 415. Estimate $250. Sold for $450. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Numerian. AD 283-284. Antoninianus (20mm, 3.50 g, 12h). Hybrid with reverse of Carinus. Rome mint, 5th officina. 3rd emission, AD 283. IMP NVMERIANVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right / FIDES MILITVM, Fides standing half-left, holding a signum in each hand; KAЄ. RIC V –; Pink VI/2, –; Venèra –; L. Bellesia, “Un inedito antoniniano di numeriano” in Panorama Numismatico June-July 2017, fig. 1 (this coin). Good VF, brown surfaces, some silvering remaining, trace deposits. Apparently unique. A copy of Bellesia’s article will be included with the lot.

This issue is common for of Carinus (RIC V 252), but is previously unknown for Numerian. Studies of the Rome mint during the joint reign show that the odd-numbered officinae struck issues of Carinus, while the even-numbered officinae struck those of Numerian. Therefore this coin is the product of a mint error, where an obverse of Numerian was struck with a reverse die reserved for issues of Carinus.