EXPECTATE VENI

EXPECTATE VENI. (Come, O expected one!) - Figure in military dress, his left hand resting on the hasta, stands joining hands with a robed female, also standing, and who holds a trident. In the exergue RSR (probably meant for Rutupiae, now Richborough, in Kent). - Obv. IMP. CARAVSIVS P. F. AVG. Laurelled bust of Carausius
   This unique legend, with its hardly less rare and remarkable type, appears on the reverse of a silver Carausius, of which Mr. Akerman was the first to publish an engraving. (See his Descriptive Catalogue, vol. ii. vignette in wood, p. 154), from "a specimen in unusually good condition." It formed part of the late Mr. Thomas 's "princely collection," at the sale of which this precious monetal relic of the usurping but independant sovereign of Britain, brought the sum of ₤10 5s. The learned editor of the auction catalogue (Mr. Burgon, p. 285), observes, that the coin in question "is of far better silver than Carausius 's generally are."
    The preceeding cut is after a cast, furnished to the compiler by Mr. Doubleday, apparently from the Thomas specimen. The same type also occurs in gold, according to Mionnet (Raret�, &c. ii. 166), who values it at 600 fr. whilst he prices the silver type at 150 fr. - See Mintages of Carausius, p. 178 et seq.
    "Both type and legend seem to imply, that Carausius had sounded the Britons before he ran off with the fleet from Boulogue. Gen�brier, describing, probably, from an ill-preserved coin, takes the female figure for Felicity, and supposes the trident to be the long caduccus, with which that Roman goddess is generally represented. But that it is a trident which she holds is quite evident, and that the figure is the Genius of Britain will be acknowledged even by the unimaginative." - See Akerman.
    Eckhel (viii. 45), who formed his opinion apparently, not from having seen the coin, by from an engraving in Haym 's Tesoro Britannica still considers the female figure to be the Genius of Britain. his words are - "Figuram muliebrem esse genium Britanniae, verisimile existimo, qui Carausium ad se, et capessendum imperion invitare videtur." And he aptly cites Virgil, who makes Aeneas speak to Hector in like phraseology - "quibus Hector ab oris expectate venis?"

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