Lot 56-153. Aurelian. A.D. 270-275. AE antoninianus. Siscia mint, struck autumn A.D. 272-early 274. Very Rare.

Aurelian. A.D. 270-275. AE antoninianus (22.4 mm, 3.02 g, 1 h). Siscia mint, struck autumn A.D. 272-early 274. IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA PARTICA, Victory crowning empror standing left, holding globe and scepter; S* in exergue. RIC 240; Venera 7149. Fine. Very Rare.

One of only five known specimens. Same dies as the coin in the K. Ramage collection, same obverse die as the coin in the Ph. Ghysen collection. There are only two obverse dies and two reverse dies known for this issue.

The Palmyrene Empire had reached its zenith at the beginning of Aurelian's reign, but the new emperor's early military campaigns took him to the Danube region to fight the Goths. After reestablishing Dacia, and fortifying the Moesian regions, he turned his sights on Palmyra in the east. In the summer of A.D. 272, Aurelian defeated the Palmyrene army near Antioch. Zenobia fled to Emesa where Aurelian again defeated her army. Afterwards, he besieged and conquered Palmyra in the Syrian desert. Zenobia tried to escape to the Parthians (who had supported her), but was captured at the Euphrates river. The emperor spared her life. Aurelian assumed the titles Parthicus Maximus and Persicus Maximus and was hailed as Restitutor Orientis. While returning to Rome, remaining Palymran loyalist started an uprising but were immediately put down by remaining Roman troops ending any remnants of the empire.The fate of Vabalathus is uncertain. He may have died on the return trip to Rome but there is no record of his death. Zenobia is said to have lived out the rest of her life in an estate on the Tiber.

 

Estimate:

$  250.00

Final Price:

$ 360.00 (11 bid(s))
Approximately EUR 0.00 / GBP 0.00

$  ( bid(s))
Approximately EUR / GBP

Time remaining:

Bidding closed (Tuesday, 31 May 2016, 13:16:00)
Current time: Friday, September 12th, 10:47:07