Rare Aureolus antonianus, minted only in AD 268 during the siege of Milan.
Using the imperial mint in Milan, Aureolus minted coins with the image of Postumus.
Siege coin, characterized by poor minting and quality.
Obverse: radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
IMP POSTVMVS AVG
Reverse: Virtus walking right, holding spear and shield, no officina letter
VIRTVS EQVIT
Weight 1.56 g
Aureolus was a usurper hailed as August by the army around 261-262, then probably allied with Galien against Postumus, to whose side he turned in early 268. He very quickly decided to use his new covenant and attacked Galien. Unfortunately, Postumus did not come to the rescue and in the Battle of the Adda River in the spring of 268, Aureolus suffered a huge defeat. He escaped with the remnants of his army to nearby Milan, where he was then besieged by Galien's troops. During the siege, there was a conspiracy to murder Galien, and the new emperor was Claudius II of Gothic. Later in the siege, Aureolus was also murdered by his soldiers, thanks to which Claudius easily broke through the gates of Milan.
