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Carthage and the Quinquegentiani

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Victor:
The Quinquegentiani (People of the Five Tribes) were a confederation of Berbers in North Africa. They were under Roman rule, but rebelled in A.D. 289 and were successful for a few years until Maximianus Herculius launched a series of devastating attacks starting in A.D. 296-297 and finishing in A.D. 298, after which, the Quinquegentiani were never heard of again. "On 10 March (A.D. 298) Herculius entered Carthage in triumph after the completion of his African campaign"  RIC VI pg 23


The coinage from Carthage struck during this period references the campaign against the Quinquegentiani as the mint was only opened because of the war. When Maximianus arrived in Carthage sometime in 296- 297, he needed to open a mint to have funds to pay for the war. The types struck in Carthage were also specific to the city and not struck anywhere else in the Empire. The coin type commonly struck throughout the Empire at this time was the GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, a type which Carthage did not even strike. The types Carthage minted were specific to Carthage and current events, like FELIX ADVENT AVGG NN, SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS AVCTA KART and CONSERVATORES KART SVAE (though struck by Maxentius, I believe he was referencing the same victory as he also struck these for his father, Maximianus) which all reference the campaign and demonstrate how grateful the citizens of Carthage were to Maximianus for their salvation from the Quinquegentiani.

"The reverses of either kind[referencing the SALVIS types], are to be referred to Herculius' presence in Africa, his successes against the Quinquegentiani, and in particular his final and triumphal prescence in Carthage itself, where he was in residence as late as March 298." RIC VI pg 415


Trier also issued a type which referenced these events- the FORTVNAE REDUCI reverse "these should echo the successful termination of Constantius' Rhenish campaigns by 299 and of Herculius' African campaign (followed by his visit to Rome) in 298" RIC VI pg 149


Maxentius shut down the mint at Carthage in A.D. 307, but it was re-opened during the revolt of Domitius Alexander for a few years (A.D. 308- 311). When Constantine defeated Maxentius, there was no more need for a mint in Carthage, and it never re-opened during the Constantinian period.

RickieHol:
So much turmoil in such a short period of time. Thanks for the write-up, Victor!

Victor:
Welcome aboard Rickie.

Victor:

I finally stopped procrastinating and made a page about these Carthage coins. I only used RIC VI for reference and it is far from exhaustive as I only illustrate coins that I own or used to own...and no examples for Domitius Alexander-- yet.

If you see any errors, please let me know

http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/Carthage/

Gundobad:
Thanks, Victor. An excellent presentation on the issues and very easy to use.

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