Emerita or Augusta Emerita was founded in 25 BC by Augustus, to resettle emeriti soldiers discharged from the Roman army from two veteran legions of the Cantabrian Wars: Legio V Alaudae and Legio X Gemina.
The city was the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania.
Today the Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida is one of the largest and most extensive archaeological sites in Spain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.
The city was the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania.
Today the Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida is one of the largest and most extensive archaeological sites in Spain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.
Modern location: Mérida, Spain
(1)
Augustus
Obverse: AVGVST, Bare head of Augustus facing left
Reverse: P CARISI LEG, Victory standing facing right, crowning trophy of captured arms, dagger and curved sword at base
Diameter:
14 mm
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 1.79 g
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 1.79 g
Publius Carisius as legatus
RIC I (Second Edition) Augustus 1b
(2)
Augustus
Obverse: CAESAR AVG TRIB POTEST Barehead right
Reverse: P CARISIVS - LEG - AVGVSTI in three lines
Diameter:
27 mm
Die Orientation: 9 H
Weight: 10.48 g
Die Orientation: 9 H
Weight: 10.48 g
Ex. Harry Stewart Collection
RIC I 15a ; BMCRE 298
(3)
Augustus
Obverse: CAESAR AVGVST TRIB (or TRIBVN or TRIBVNI) POTEST, Bare head of Augustus facing right
Reverse: P. CARISIVS LEG AVGVSTI, Inscription in three lines
Diameter:
26 mm
Die Orientation: 2 H
Weight: 11.37 g
Die Orientation: 2 H
Weight: 11.37 g
Publius Carisius as legatus
Because the inscription after AVGVST is off of the flan it could be either TRIB POTEST, TRIBVN POTEST, or TRIBVNI POTEST, making it either RIC 23, 24, or 25 respectively.
Because the inscription after AVGVST is off of the flan it could be either TRIB POTEST, TRIBVN POTEST, or TRIBVNI POTEST, making it either RIC 23, 24, or 25 respectively.
RIC I (Second Edition) Augustus 23, 24, or 25
(4)
Augustus
Obverse: CAESAR AVGVS TRIBVNIC POTES / Head bare right
Reverse: P CARISIVS LEG AVGVSTI in three lines across
Diameter:
-
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 10.34 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 10.34 g
Under governor P. Carisius
RIC 19 var, BM-301 (obv. leg incomplete), Paris-1080 var
(5)
Augustus
Obverse: bare head right; AVGVST
Reverse: Victory standing right, placing wreath on a trophy consisting of helmet and cuirass; dagger and sword hilt at base of trophy; P CARIS_I__LEG
Diameter:
14.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.56 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.56 g
P. Carisius, legatus pro praetore
RIC 1a; sear5 1642; RSC 386