Roman Imperial coin – HCR155578

Obverse

Inscription:

IMP AVRELIANVS AVG

Design:

Bust of Aurelian, radiate, draped, cuirassed, right, viewed from front

Reverse

Inscription:

PIETAS AVG

Design:

Aurelian and Claudius(?), togate, standing face to face, both sacrificing out of patera in right hands over lighted altar set between them; emperor on left holding a short sceptre in left hand and emperor on right holding a baton in left hand

Information

Period

Roman Imperial

Dynasty

Central Empire

Reign

Aurelian

Person

Aurelian (ruler/authority)

Mint

Mediolanum

Denomination

Antoninianus

Material

debased silver

Technique

struck

Dating

271 CE (according to MER RIC)

Measurements
Acquisition
Additional information
Ticket
References
Credit

Weight (g)

3.16

Axis

Diameter (mm)

23.7

Acquisition method

bequest

Acquisition collection reference

Roman Imperial AE III 853

Acquisition date

1834

Source

Francis Douce

Acquisition credit

Bequeathed by Francis Douce, 1834.

Mint-mark (reverse)

-/-//S

Issue

Fourth Series, First Part (Göbl, MIR 47) / Second Series (MER RIC)

Iconography

Reverse depicts two male figures sacrificing and holding imperial symbols (sceptre/baton), likely emperors (e.g. HCR8699-8704), not Pietas (female) or priest (non-imperial). Second figure presumed deified Claudius II, from whom Aurelian claimed legitimacy

Reference

RIC V.1 (first edition) : 138c

Note:

Reverse figures appear to be two emperors, not emperor and priest. See note in 'additional information'

Reference

Göbl, MIR 47 : 61b.2

Reference

MER RIC : https://ric.mom.fr/en/coin/1436

Note:

Reverse figures appear to be two emperors, not emperor and Pietas. See note in 'additional information'

This specimen

Yes

Reference

OCRE : http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.5.aur.138

Contributors to this coin record

autouploader, mspencer-brown