Owner Comments:
While Aurelian is famous for conquering foreign enemies, his most dangerous war was arguably fought inside the city of Rome, against his own employees. By 271 AD, the imperial mint at Rome had become a den of corruption. Rome’s newly produced double-denarii were trending lighter, smaller, and lower in silver content. Aurelian suspected that the
monetarii (mint workers) led by the finance minister Felicissimus were stealing silver intended for coin production. When the Augustus attempted to audit the mint and restore the currency standard, the workers didn’t just strike — they launched a full-scale civil war.
The Revolt of the Mint Workers is unique in Roman history. It was not a protest, but a pitched battle on the Caelian Hill that left 7,000 soldiers and citizens dead. Aurelian crushed the rebellion with characteristic ruthlessness, executed the ringleaders, and temporarily closed the Rome mint. He then launched a comprehensive monetary reform to restore faith in the imperial currency.
This coin, struck after the reform (circa 274–275 AD), testifies to that victory. It is unknown if a new name was assigned to this reformed coin. Actually, we don’t what name the ancient Romans actually used in the first place. NGC Ancients denotes the original denomination as struck prior to Aurelian's reform as a "double-denarius" (another modern convention frequently used is "antoninianus" in recognition of the proper name for Caracalla who launched its production). For such coins produced after Aurelian's reform, NGC Ancients adopts the modern moniker of "aurelianianus".
Regardless of contemporaneous naming conventions, the difference in quality from pre-reform issues is striking. The fabric is broader, the strike is sharper, and the portraiture is more refined. Most importantly, the exergue bears the numerals XXI. This mark is interpreted to be a guarantee of value: it signified that the alloy contained 20 parts copper to 1 part silver (approx. 4.76%). This fixed standard ended the chaotic debasement of the previous decades and re-anchored the Roman economy.
The reverse legend, RESTITVTOR EXERCITI ("Restorer of the Army"), is particularly poignant. Aurelian knew that a stable currency was the only way to pay the legions without inciting mutiny. He had restored the world with his sword, but he tried to save the empire with his accounting. Tragically, the discipline he enforced proved his undoing. In 275 AD, he was assassinated by his own officers who had been tricked into believing that they were next on his list of executions.
Additional Reading: “NGC Ancients: Coin Denominations of the Roman Empire," D. Vagi, NGC Ancients article from 4/12/2011.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Aurelian, AD 270-275, BI Aurelianianus (4.07 g), Milan mint, NGC Grade: Ch MS★, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, Obverse: Radiate, cuirassed bust right, IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, Reverse: Emperor standing right, holding sceptre, receiving globe from Jupiter, standing left, holding scepter, IOVI CONSER, Officina letter S in exergue, Reference: RIC V-1, 129 Milan.
Image: Sony ɑ 7R Ⅴ camera / Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens.