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Aurelian, August 270 - October or November 275 A.D.
Sol Invictus ("Unconquered Sun") was the sun god of the later Roman Empire and a patron of soldiers. In 274 the Roman emperor Aurelian made it an official cult alongside the traditional Roman cults. The god was favored by emperors after Aurelian and appeared on their coins until Constantine. The last inscription referring to Sol Invictus dates to 387 and there were enough devotees in the 5th century that Augustine found it necessary to preach against them. The date 25 December was selected for Christmas to replace the popular Roman festival Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, the "Birthday of the Unconquered Sun."RL88778. Billon antoninianus, MER-RIC T1528 (10 spec.), Venèra 4873-4876, Komin 827, Thun 2/588, RIC V-1 154, Cohen VI 234, SRCV III 11610, Hunter IV 65 var. (1st officina), F, dark patina, tight oval flan cutting off parts of legends, 4th officina, Ticinum (Pavia, Italy) mint, weight 2.342g, maximum diameter 21.0mm, die axis 0o, 1st issue, May 274; obverse IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right; reverse SOLI INVICTO (to the invincible sun god), Sol standing half left, radiate, nude but for chlamys over shoulders and left arm, raising right hand commanding the sun to rise, globe in left hand, foot on captive left, captive at feet right, star left, QXXT in exergue; SOLD
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