Aureus - Aurelianus VIRTVS AVG; Mars
| Gold | - | - |
| 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 |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#290988 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Mars, walking right, holding spear in right hand and trophy in left hand; at his feet, captive.
Script: Latin
Lettering: VIRTVS AVG
Translation:
Virtus Augusti.
Courage of the emperor.
Comment
Source:Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)
Interesting fact
The Aureus coin was used as a means of payment for Roman soldiers, and it was also used to pay taxes. In fact, the Roman Empire used a system called the "gold standard" where the value of the currency was pegged to the value of gold. This meant that the Aureus coin was worth a certain amount of gold, and people could exchange their coins for a certain amount of gold if they wanted to. This system helped to stabilize the Roman economy and make trade easier.