The only man fit for the title! My newest addition. 3.83g Cyzicus mint So all the refrences say the entity holding the wreath as just a 'woman', but does anyone who that is specifically? is it Victory? although she has wings.
No clue, my example. (S) Antoninianus O: IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG, Radiate and cuirassed bust right. R: RESTITVTOR ORBIS, woman standing right, presenting wreath to Aurelian standing left, leaning on sceptre, suppliant captive between them. * Δ in exergue. 4.2mm 21mm RIC V-1, Cyzicus 349 var.
A really nice type of historic significance. I always thought it is victory even while the wings are often hard to see. Looking at other Restitutor types it also could be the personification of the world? Here two examples from my collection (Serdica and Antioch mint):
I agree with wittwolf. Some see wings, some see a fold in the long robe. Dies differ as do what has happened to coins over time. I can accept 'woman'.
Only have an Aurelian Antoninianus as Restitutor Orientis - guess he didn't restitute yetthe Orbis On this issue it is Oriens who is handing him the wreath. By analogy on the Restitutor Orbis issue it is maybe Orbis (The World). Aurelian leaves a very strong numismatic legacy for his five years as emperor. His coins, 99% or more of which are Antoniniani, are available. They turn up regularly even sold in bulk. The bust type of this series can be radiate and draped, or radiate and cuirassed. The officina letter can be S or P, and the emperor on the reverse can be laureate or radiate. All these have the same RIC number. Antoninianus, Mediolanum, 270 - 275 AD 19 x 21 mm, 4.195 g RIC V Aurelian 140; Ob.: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG Bust of Aurelian, radiate, cuirassed, right Rev.: RESTITVT OR/IENTIS Aurelian, standing left, holding spear in left hand, extending r. hand, receiving wreath from Oriens, standing right; mintmark P
We had this discussion quite recently in another thread, and I think the general consensus was that the reverse figure on my Aurelian Restitutor Orbis indeed has wings behind her -- albeit faint -- and, therefore, must indeed be Victory .
Strong portrait with some nice detail. Reminds me that I need to up my Aurelian game. He is one of my very favorite Emperors of Rome:
Indeed this was discussed here https://www.cointalk.com/threads/how-aurelian-restored-the-roman-empire.380021/page-2#post-7537881 On almost all the examples you could see traces of wings so I also suspect it is Victory, although when I researched my coin I found "Female (Orbis Terrarum) standing right presents wreath to Aurelian standing left. Small figure kneeling between." My coin has a ultra rare reverse variety, a headless Victory crowning a headless Aurelian with an invisible crown.
I have two Restitutors, one Serdican and one Cyzican. Serdica does NOT appear to have wings; rather the lines on the back of the female appear to be a rendering of the drapery. On the other side, Cyzicus has what is clearly not part of the drapery, but not quite a wing, if we compare it with an Aurelian denarius with an actual wing: However, Cyzicus could be a wing if its tucked close to the back, and not spread out like the majority of advancing victories tend to have. But at least, for certain my Serdican example is NOT a victory, or at least if she is, she's a wingless victory.
Nice "restituror orbis" all around Aurelian, Aurelianus - Serdica mint, 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 Q
I have seen it referred to as Orbis Terrarum. @DonnaML - I personally have my doubts about wings on your example. I suspect that what is being seen as wings is the remnant of the cloak from a previous strike as part of a slightly rotated double strike. My evidence for this is the doubled staff rotated at the same axis on the RHS.
