AR19 - Carinus L Β

Carinus ruled the eastern half of the empire while his father Carus campaigned against Persia — a campaign that ended with Carus dead under disputed circumstances near Ctesiphon in late 283, possibly struck by lightning, possibly murdered. Alexandria's mint continued producing tetradrachms through this administrative handoff without interruption, which is precisely why distinguishing late Carus-era from early Carinus-era issues from this mint can be difficult. The regnal year Β (year 2) places this piece in 283–284, toward the close of Alexandrian tetradrachm production, which effectively ended with Diocletian's monetary reforms.