© Trustees of the British Museum
© Trustees of the British Museum
Aureus - Aurelianus FIDES MILIT; Fides
| Gold | 5.5 g | - |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Aurelian (Lucius Domitius Aurelianus) (270-275) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 270-275 |
| Value | Aureus (25⁄2) |
| Currency | Antoninianus, Reform of Caracalla (AD 215 – 301) |
| Composition | Gold |
| Weight | 5.5 g |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#290899 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Fides, draped, standing left, holding ensign in each hand.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
FIDES MILIT
-/-//S
Translation:
Fides Militum.
Loyalty of the soldiers.
Comment
Example of this type:Trustees of the British Museum
Source:
Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Aureus - Aurelianus (FIDES MILIT; Fides) coin is that it features the first known use of the Christian symbol, the Chi-Rho, on a Roman coin. The Chi-Rho is a combination of the first two letters of the Greek word "Christos" (Χριστός), and it was used by early Christians to represent their faith. This coin was issued during the reign of Emperor Aurelian, who ruled from 270 to 275 AD, and it suggests that Christianity was already gaining prominence in the Roman Empire at that time.
