This one was sold by a reputed European dealer and is quite an extraordinary coin: AURELIAN AE25x22mm 3.27g pre-reform Antoninian (aVF, silvering, wear, small area with soft strike) AV: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG; radiate, cuirassed and draped with paludamentum, holding Victory on globe in right hand and eagle-handled pugio on left forearm half-length bust l. REV: CONCORDIA MILITVM; Emperor togate stg. r., clasping the hand of Concordia stg. l. EXE: *T REF: LV 7428-33, RIC V-1 218corr. RIC Temp #2201, 21 specs recorded from 3 obverse dies, obverse die-match with LV 7428, 3rd officina at Siscia mint, autumn 272-early 274AD. Exceptional bust type, this half-length majestic depiction is somewhat singular in the iconography of Aurelian, issued in the period of his greatest military feats - defeating the Palmyrene Revolt, acquiring Gaul and unifying the "Secessionist Empire" that had been lost since 260 with Rome again, this scarce issue seems to be a special celebratory issue at the height of Aurelianus's glory. There are only 3 obverse dies recorded, this spec is die match with LV 7428-9. Another interesting fact is that Siscia is the only mint to use this bust type for Aurelian and that might also be a sign about the importance of Siscia. Image courtesy of dealer.
