Antoninianus of Aurelian (270–275 AD) Oriens Avg Type. Beautiful Silvered
Lot 416 · Consigned by ahmedmohkhedr
Closed
Description
Obverse (Front)
Inscription (Legend): IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG (Imperator Caesar Aurelianus Augustus)
Depiction: A sharply detailed, right-facing portrait of Emperor Aurelian wearing a radiate crown (signifying the value of an antoninianus) and clad in body armor (cuirass). The portrait displays his characteristic cropped military beard and rigid features, typical of the "soldier emperors" of the 3rd-century crisis.
Reverse (Back)
Inscription (Legend): ORIENS AVG (The Rising Sun of the Emperor)
Depiction: The sun god Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun) walking or standing left, raising his right hand in a gesture of blessing/authority and holding a globe in his left hand. At his feet sit two bound captives, symbolizing Aurelian's military triumphs over the breakaway Palmyrene and Gallic Empires, which earned him the title Restitutor Orbis (Restorer of the World).
Exergue (Mint Mark): Located at the very bottom, the letters XXIR indicate this coin was minted in Rome. The "XXI" is a value mark denoting the alloy composition (20 parts copper to 1 part silver).