AURELIAN Pre-reform Antoninianus

Here is a coin I purchased off one of our fellow CT members. It arrived today and I couldn't be happier with it.

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

Lucius Domitius Aurelianus Augustus(9 September 214 or 215 – September or October 275); Roman Emperor from 270 to 275.

Born in humble circumstances, he rose through military ranks to become emperor. During his reign, he defeated the Alamanni after a devastating war. He also defeated the Goths, Vandals, Juthungi, Sarmatians, and Carpi. Aurelian restored the Empire's eastern provinces after his conquest of the Palmyrene Empire in 273. The following year he conquered the Gallic Empire in the west, reuniting the Empire in its entirety. He was also responsible for the construction of the Aurelian Walls in Rome, and the abandonment of the province of Dacia.

His successes were instrumental in ending the Roman Empire's Crisis of the Third Century, earning him the title Restitutor Orbis or 'Restorer of the World'. Although Domitian was the first emperor who had demanded to be officially hailed as dominus et deus (master and god), these titles never occurred in written form on official documents until the reign of Aurelian.

The Romans conquered much of the known world and many powerful enemies in the process. At the height of their power, it seemed they were unstoppable and that the Empire would last for eternity. Eventually they placed the legends "ROMAE AETERNAE" on their coinage. This legends translates into "Eternal Rome". These coins usually depict the goddess Roma with a Spear and a victory in her hand as well as a shield beside or beneath her. These icons were symbols of Roma's might. Spear for the strength of the Roman army and the phalanx. Shield also representing might, but also the sense that one was safe under Roman rule. The victory of course represents the victories over Rome's enemies.

 

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Very glad you like it

 

Very nice, Bing. I have been wanting to pick up one of Aurelian ever since learning about him from The History of Rome podcast and I actually just bought an antoninianus of Aurelian from Seth77 as well:


Aurelian AE Antoninianus(25mm, 3.8g). Autumn 272-Autumn 273 AD. Uncertain mint. IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate, cuirassed bust right / CONCORD MILIT, Aurelian togate standing right, holding short sceptre in left hand, clasping the hand of Concordia standing left. Gamma in ex. RIC 391.

 

Nice red, and a red background to boot!

 

Nice one. I almost recently bought one with a Victory advancing Left reverse, which seem scarce but it languished in reserve, finally asked about it, dealer emailed the person who reserved it, got purchased. Owell.

This one I have had for several years, common reverse but still nice.


Aurelian (270 - 275 A.D.)
Æ Antoninianus
O: IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG, Radiate and cuirassed bust right.
R: ORIENS AVG , Sol advancing left, raising right hand, globe in left, flanked by two captives at feet, txxt in ex
Ticinum Mint 2nd Emission. 3rd Officina
3.81g
RIC 151

 

Great coin Bing. Now I know what happened to it - I saw it in Seth's selling thread and was going to ask him for it myself, then it was gone. I'm glad it went to you.

I'll post one of my Aurelian ants that looks deceptively like a common coin, but the Concordia-with-two-standards type is actually common for Severina, quite scarce for Aurelian...

 

Scarce for that type might be a an understatement though...

 

I also like this coin immensely - super detail on the cuirass, a nice long-necked imperious bust, and a solidly-struck reverse.

 

Picture is a bit dark, in hand the silvering is also visible.

 

excellent portrait and reverse details bing.

i went to post a pic and the only coin i have of this guy is so rough that i never took a pic of it. i have to put this guy back on the top of my list.

 

Your list seems to be getting very long Chris. Mine never gets any shorter.

 

I don't have one of these pre-reform ants, but that's a top-notch new pick up, congrats!

I've not shared this one before though I've had it for almost two years now. I still haven't taken a photograph of it either, though I really should. This pic is taken off the database of the (work-in-progress?) online revision to RIC V.1, where it is specimen 16 (CGB, Rome X, 2001, 1) of temp #1338.

Aurelian's issues from Lyon are generally quite scarce, as they date only from after he put an end to the breakaway Gallic Empire in AD 274. The reverse legend PACATOR ORBIS, which features only at this mint for Aurelian, names him the Restorer of Peace to the World.


AURELIAN
Antoninianus
4.25g, 22.5mm
Lyon mint, end 274 - early 275
RIC 6; RIC V.1 online temp #1338
O: IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right.
R: PACATOR ORBIS, Sol running left, with right hand raised and holding whip in left hand, cloak flying behind; AL in exergue.

 

Aurelian looks surprised or perhaps he is whistling.

 

If we are speaking of Aurelian, I believe I have a few of those Here is a sample.

AURELIAN 270-275AD AE24mm Antoninianus. 4.4 gm, Obv. IMP AVRELIANVS AVG radiate, cuirassed bust right Rev. ORIENS AVG Sol standing L with hand raised, foot on one of two bound captives, 'VI' in R. field. XXI in ex. Rome mint, Cohen 154, Sear5 11572. RIC V-1, 62

AURELIAN 274-275 AD. 3 gm, Antoninianus AE21mm, Obv. IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate cuirassed bust right. Rev. FORTVNA REDVX, Fortuna seated left on wheel, holding rudder & cornucopiae. In Exe. officina letter 'P'. Milan mint. Cohen 95, Sear 5 11539, RIC VI 128




AURELIAN AE Antoninianus. Milan mint. IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate draped bust right / VIRTVS AVG, emperor standing right, holding sceptre & globe, receiving Victory from soldier opposite, T in ex. Sear5 11631. RIC VI 149

AURELIAN 272-274AD,"Genius" Billon Antoninianus, Silvered 3.4 gm,, AE21 mm., Obv: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate cuirassed bust R. Rev: GENIVS EXERCITI, Genius standing left, holding patera & cornucopia, ensign behind. Cyzicus mint, RIC.VI.345f, Cohen 100; Sear5 11540.


AURELIAN 270-275 AD. 3.4 gm, AE23 mm Antoninianus Obv. IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right. Rev. IOVI CONSER Emperor standing right, holding spear, receiving globe from Jupiter, standing left, resting on vertical sceptre. Star 'T' in exe. Siscia mint RIC VI 225 var


Unattributed - AURELIAN


Unattributed - AURELIAN

 

(Fixed the missing photo - now can't get rid of this.)

 

I love the reverse with Sol trampling the captives...and I really like @Topcat7 's second with the emperor receiving victory from the soldier. Here's my Sol:

Aurelian, AD 270-275
Ae Antoninianus, 21mm, 3.9g, 6h; Rome mint.
Obv.: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG; Radiate bust right.
Rev.: ORIENS AVG; Sol advancing left holding globe, two captives below // XXIS

 

Topcat, your first unattributed coin looks like a Valerian I to me. It also has an ANNONA AVGG legend. Possibly RIC 69.

 

You're absolutely right "Zumbly".
After reading your reply I checked my 'Valerianus' file and there it was "RIC V-I 69, same photo.
I thank-you for pointing that out to me. I don't know how it (the unattributed photo), found its way into my 'Aurealianus' file, but it has now been moved. (He doesn't even look like Aurelianus.)
What about 'unattributed No. 2'? Now he does have a look of Aurelianus, don't you think?

 

I think no. 2 looks more like Diocletian with a Jupiter and eagle reverse. I see IOVI in the legend.

 

Sweet addition, Bing (I didn't realize that seth was sellin' his wares)

I still only have this lone long-necked example of this fella:



congrats on your new seth-coins, fellas (they're both sweet)