Wife-approved Aurelian Antoninianus

I don't often buy Roman Imperial coins, especially later Imperial coins, but when I saw this one on offer by our own Seth77 I knew I had to have it. Aurelian has been one of my favorite emperors ever since I first learned about him while listening to Mike Duncan's "The History of Rome" podcast, but for whatever reason it took me a year to get around to actually getting one of his coins. Besides being an interesting historical figure, the bust on this one is amazingly sharp and detailed. It's one of the 4 or 5 in my entire collection that has actually made my wife say "wow, that is a beautiful coin" as opposed to the glance, eye-roll and "how much did you spend on this one?" that usually accompanies new purchases.



Aurelian AE Antoninianus(25mm, 3.8g). Autumn 272-Autumn 273 AD. Uncertain Balkan mint. IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate, cuirassed bust right / CONCORD MILIT, Aurelian standing left, clasping hands with Concordia who stands right. Gamma in ex. RIC 391; Sear5 11515.

Anyone else got any Aurelians? Let's see em. I know a few of you do!

 

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Wow, that is a beautiful coin

 

Hey, if it's wife approved, then it's a keeper.

 

Wife approved? Sounds like a tall tale. Nice coin though.

 

Very glad you like it
Also, for your collection notes, you might add as provenance/pedigree that coin is ex. Lanz.

 

Glance, eye-roll and how much did you spend on this one?

I love these Aurelian coins. His portraits are really very regal, just like this new one of yours.

My newest from the same source as yours:

AURELIAN
Pre-reform Antoninianus (AE20)
OBVERSE: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG; radiate, cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: ROMAE AETERNAE; Emperor togate stg. r., receiving Victory from Roma std. l. on shield holding a long sceptre (or a spear) in l. hand, EXE: Q
Struck at 4th officina, Milan mint, autumn 271 – autumn 272AD
3.80g, 20mm
RIC V-1 142
EX. Marc Walter, Vienna, Austria

My oldest purchase of Aurelian

AURELIAN
Antoninianus
OBVERSE: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG Radiate, cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: VICTORIA AVG, Victory facing, wings spread, rising up between two shields, pearl diadem in hands star over P in right field. first officinae Siscia
Struck at Siscia, 270-5 AD
4.1g, 21mm
RIC 238

And one other for good measure

AURELIAN
Antoninianus
OBVERSE: IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate bust right
REVERSE: RESTITVT ORBIS, female on the left presents a wreath to Aurelian, holding a sceptre, Gamma in ex.
Struck at Antioch,270-5 AD
3.6g, 22mm
RIC V 386

 

CA.... errm... WAP sticker on the slab...?

 

Nice coin,

I don't remember of my wife ever disapproving a coin purchase....I must be the luckiest guy here


Aurelian, Aurelianus
IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, Radiate and cuirassed bust right
ORIENS AVG, Sol walking left between two captives. V at exergue
3,30 gr
Ref : Cohen #145



Aurelian, Aurelianus minted in Serdica, AD 274-275
IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, Radiate and cuirassed bust of Aurelianus right
RESTITUT OR BIS, Pax with laurel wreath she gives to Aurelian. In field *, at ex. KA.A.
4.15 gr
Ref : RCV #11592, Cohen #192



Aurelian and Severina, Double sestertius Rome mint AD 274-275
IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust of Aurelian right
SEVERINA AVG, diademed and draped bust of Severina right, on crescent
11.18 gr
Ref : Cohen # 1, RIC # 2, RCV # 11696

Q

 

Thanks, it is a great coin and I will add a note to my info about this coin.

 

Hey Cucumber, is your wife French? That makes it doubly nice. OoLaLa (or something of that nature).

 

Congrats on the purchase!
There is a giant gap from 249-300 CE in my collection, so I don't have any to post.

I love THOR podcast, I still occasionally listen to it. I really wish Mike would have went into the "Byzantine" times
Have you listened to the History of Byzantium by Robin Pierson? It picks up right at the end of THOR.
http://thehistoryofbyzantium.com

 

I haven't actually listened to the history of Byzantium. Once I finished THOR I started reading a lot more. I'm currently working my way through The Landmark Thucydides and plan to stay on Greek history for a bit but at some point I'd like to continue where THOR left off and study some Byzantine history, just no idea when I'll get around to it.

 

Yes, french of Belgian origin
The luckiest, I said....

Q

 

In seems like we hve the call to show Aurelian more often than most late rulers and I have not added a new one for a while so I run the risk of boring those who have been around CT a while in the hope the new folks will enjoy seeing them.

 

None of your coins will ever be boring Doug. I enjoy looking at them.

 

While still under the strong impression of the tragedy of Palmyra, I'll show you perhaps the ugliest Aurelian and at the same time, one of his scarcest types:


AURELIAN AE24mm 3.49g Antoninian pre-reform (aVF, patina, uncleaned)

AV: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG; radiate, cuirassed bust r.

REV: VICTORIA AVG; Trophy of arms (helmet r.); on each side, a bound and std. captive in oriental dress.

EXE: C*

REF: BNC p.417; RIC V-1 354, RIC Online #2948 very scarce, 6specs recorded, none in La Venera hoard, reverse die-match w/ London (1979 3-1-19), 1st officina of Cyzicus mint, early-summer 272AD.

Type issued only at Cyzicus, commemorating the defeat of the Palmyrene Revolt of Zenobia and Vabalathus.

I got this from a FAC auction and decided not to try cleaning it. I haven't seen another being offered in the last 10 or so years.

 

Doug, I am a new guy...although I don't focus on RE, I really enjoy your postings.. 'Taint boring to me, feller Hoosier!

 

I've quite a few coins of Aurelian, but I'm particularly fond of this As. As for a wife-approved coin, that I'm still working on it. Congrats on finding one .


AURELIAN
AE As
7.10g, 24.5mm
Rome mint, January-September AD 275
RIC V 80; BN 303-6
O: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right.
R: CONCORDIA AVG, Severina and Aurelian standing standing vis-à-vis, clasping hands, radiate bust of Sol, right, above them; Δ in exergue.

 

I don't kow that it would help with your wife's approval but I suspect Severina approved of this as that accompanied zumbly's coin..