Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XVII 28 Mar 2019
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Aurelian AV Aureus. Siscia, AD 270-271. IMP C D AVRELIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / FIDES MILI, Fides standing facing, head left, holding military standard in each hand. MER-RIC 1905 (Siscia, temporary); RIC 89 (Mediolanum or Ticinum); Calicó 3999 (same). 4.66g, 21mm, 1h.
Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; no other examples on CoinArchives.
From the inventory of a German dealer, acquired from Nomos AG.
It has previously been suggested of this coin that the portrait could either represent a more realistic image of the emperor (in contrast to the heavily standardised images on his later coinage) or that it could be the work of a die engraver with no knowledge of Aurelian's appearance who modelled the portrait on that of Claudius Gothicus (or perhaps his brother Quintillus). Of these possibilities the latter seems more likely, and indeed the turbulent political situation of the period might well give rise to brief periods where mint workers were not yet in possession of adequate portraits from which to model their dies.
The reverse of this aureus bears the legend 'loyalty of the soldiers' and depicts Fides, the Roman goddess of trust and loyalty - fitting given that it was the legions in Sirmium who were entirely responsible for his elevation to the purple, having rejected Quintillus as Augustus, preferring instead a commander of their own choosing.
Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; no other examples on CoinArchives.
From the inventory of a German dealer, acquired from Nomos AG.
It has previously been suggested of this coin that the portrait could either represent a more realistic image of the emperor (in contrast to the heavily standardised images on his later coinage) or that it could be the work of a die engraver with no knowledge of Aurelian's appearance who modelled the portrait on that of Claudius Gothicus (or perhaps his brother Quintillus). Of these possibilities the latter seems more likely, and indeed the turbulent political situation of the period might well give rise to brief periods where mint workers were not yet in possession of adequate portraits from which to model their dies.
The reverse of this aureus bears the legend 'loyalty of the soldiers' and depicts Fides, the Roman goddess of trust and loyalty - fitting given that it was the legions in Sirmium who were entirely responsible for his elevation to the purple, having rejected Quintillus as Augustus, preferring instead a commander of their own choosing.