Carausius denarius found in railway excavation

Archaeological investigations along the route of new railway construction have uncovered Roman artifacts, including a rare silver denarius minted by the self-styled Emperor Carausius (ca. 250-293 A.D.) The coin dates to 287 A.D. and bears the laureate, draped bust of Carausius facing right encircled by the inscription IMP CARAVSIVS P F AVG (“Emperor Carausius, Pious and Blessed Augustus”).

Carausius was not an Emperor of Rome. He was a Roman citizen of the Manapii people in Belgium and an officer in the Roman navy. He was the commander of the Roman fleet Classis Britannica based in the English Channel when he got in trouble for taking confiscated treasure from captured pirates and concealing its existence from Rome. Emperor Maximian condemned him to death, but before he could be executed, Carausius revolted against Rome and declared himself Emperor of Britain and northern Gaul. He ruled the Britannic Empire as an independent state from 286 to 293 A.D. His coins were the first Roman coins struck in London.

In 293, the western Caesar Constantius Chlorus retook some of the territories in Gaul. Carausius’ treasurer Allectus assassinated him and appointed himself emperor, but when Constantius launched a full invasion to reclaim Britain in 296 A.D., Allectus died in the battle and the Britannic Empire was no more.

The East West Rail (EWR) service will run between Oxford and Cambridge, but before construction begins, archaeologists will excavate 6,000 trial trenches 164 feet long, before any permit will be granted. What they find in the test trenches will determine the Environmental Impact Assessment and the ultimate design of the railway. The program is expected to take two years.

* This article was originally published here