IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate, cuirassed bust right / SOLI INVICTO, Sol walking left, holding whip, right hand raised, treading on one of two captives at feet. Mintmark XXIP. 23mm, 3.15 grams. Serdica mint. RIC 308; Sear 11611.

Emperor Aurelian (reigned 270–275 CE) was a Roman emperor known for his military brilliance and decisive leadership during the Crisis of the Third Century, a period of chaos and fragmentation in the Roman Empire. Rising from humble origins, Aurelian reunited a divided empire by defeating both the Gallic Empire in the West and the Palmyrene Empire in the East, earning him the title "Restorer of the World" (Restitutor Orbis). He strengthened Rome’s defenses by beginning the construction of the Aurelian Walls, reformed the currency to combat inflation, and promoted the cult of Sol Invictus to unify the empire religiously. Though a capable and energetic ruler, Aurelian was assassinated by his own officers during a military campaign in Thrace. His short reign left a lasting legacy in stabilizing and preserving the Roman Empire during one of its most turbulent periods.