Aurelian Coins

The emperor Aurelian made his way from humble beginnings to imperial greatness through the Roman army. Contemporary and later historians described him as one of the empire's greatest generals.
Under his direction, the Gallic Empire (provinces of Germany, Gaul, Britain, Spain and Portugal), which had broken away from imperial rule was brought back into subjugation.

Clearly Aurelian took the means of his rise and his military duty to the empire with great seriousness, as shown by the coins issued under his reign. Unlike other emperors, Aurelian's portrait extends down to his shoulders, showing him in soldier's clothes rather than the draped robes of an emperor. Few coins show the traditional laurel wreath; the majority feature the radiated crown of victory (or currency debasement!). Aurelian coins also include a group minted by Vabalathus, king of the Palmyrene empire, showing one ruler on each side.