★ Rare & bizarre portrait, Ex Gysen ★

Aurelian (270 - 275) billon antoninianus. Serdica (2nd off.), 3.77g, 21mm.
Obv: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG; Radiate, draped, & cuirassed bust r.
Reverse: IOVI CONSER; Aurelian, standing right, holding sceptre, receiving globe from Jupiter, standing left, holding sceptre, S in ex.
RIC V Aurelian 260, MER-RIC 2583 (this is the plate coin)
From the Caesar_Augustus collection, Ex. Jacquier Auction 45, 14.09.2018, Lot 1200, from the Philippe Gysen collection (realized 70 EUR).
Lovely surfaces, bizarre portrait style combining perspective from the front and from behind!

Both RIC online and the Jacquier catalogue note the awkward portrait engraving, which shows (quite impossibly!) both of Aurelian’s cuirassed shoulders. Only 6 examples are noted, with only 2 with this unusual and interesting portrait style; this coin is the better of the two - best of type, in other words.