Aureus - Numerian VICTORIA AVGG or VICTORIAE AVGG; Victory
| Gold | - | - |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Numerian (Marcus Aurelius Numerius Numerianus) (283-284) Carinus (Marcus Aurelius Carinus) (283-285) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 283-284 |
| 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#298538 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Victory, winged, draped, walking right, holding wreath in right hand and palm in left hand.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
VICTORIA AVGG or VICTORIAE AVGG
-/-//SMA
Translation:
Victoriae Duorum Augustorum.
To the victory of the two emperors (Augusti).
Comment
Source:Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Aureus - Numerian coin is that it features the first recorded use of the Christian symbol, the Chi-Rho, on a Roman imperial coin. The Chi-Rho is a combination of the Greek letters chi (Χ) and rho (ρ), which are the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ, "Christos" (Χριστός). This symbol was used by early Christians to secretly identify themselves and was later adopted as a symbol of the Christian faith. The inclusion of the Chi-Rho on this coin is significant because it suggests that the Roman Empire, which had previously persecuted Christians, was beginning to recognize and tolerate the Christian religion.