Silvered Antoninianus, A.D. 283-285, Rome, 23.3mm, 5.55g, 0°, RIC Vii 244.
Obv: IMP CARINVS P F AVG. radiate and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: AETERNIT AVG. Aeternitas standing left, holding phoenix on globe raising skirt; K˘AΓ in ex.
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Marcus Aurelius Carinus was Roman Emperor (283 – July 285) and elder son of the Emperor Carus, on whose accession he was appointed Caesar and co-emperor of the western portion of the empire. Official accounts of his character and career have been filtered through the propaganda of his successful opponent, Diocletian.

After the death of Carus, the army in the East demanded to be led back to Europe, and Numerian, the younger son of Carus, was forced to comply. During a halt at Chalcedon, Numerian was found dead, and Diocletian, commander of the body-guards, claimed that Numerian had been assassinated and was proclaimed emperor by the soldiers. Carinus at once left Rome and set out for the East to meet Diocletian. On his way through Pannonia he put down the usurper Sabinus Iulianus, and encountered the army of Diocletian in Moesia.

Carinus was successful in several engagements, and at the Battle of the Margus River (Morava), according to one account, the valour of his troops had gained the day, when he was assassinated by a tribune whose wife he had seduced. In another account, the battle is represented as having resulted in a complete victory for Diocletian, for Carinus' army deserted him: this second account is also confirmed by the fact that Diocletian kept Carinus' Praetorian Guard commander in service.

Carinus has the reputation of having been one of the worst of the emperors. This infamy was possibly supported by Diocletian himself. For example, Historia Augusta has Carinus marrying nine wives, while neglecting to mention his only real wife, Magnia Urbica, by whom he had an only son, Marcus Aurelius Nigrinianus. After his death, Carinus' memory was condemned and his name, along with that of his wife, was erased from inscriptions.