Vabalathus (270-272) and Aurelian (270-275).
IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate cuirassed bust of Aurelian right, H below.
VABALATHVS V C R IM D R, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Vabalathus right.

Which side is the obverse is uncertain. The side with Aurelian has the officina mark "H", which would usually be on the reverse, but this coin is from Antioch and from Antioch it is not unknown for officina numbers to be on the obverse. Also, the title of Aurelian is Augustus which usually belongs on the obverse.

The titles of Vabalthus have been expanded to "Vir Clarissimus Romanorum (or perhaps "Rex") IMperator Dux Romanorun" [Clarissimus = most noble,  Dux = leader (in a military sense)]

RIC 381H. Sear III 11718.

Eastern provinces of the empire seceded under Zenobia of Palmyra and her son Vabalathus. In 271 Aurelian began recovering the east by attacking and defeating their Persian allies and reconquering Syria and Egypt. In 272 the recovery was complete with the capture of Palmyra itself. A few very rare coins were issued for Zenobia as Augusta and rare coins were issued for Vabalathus as Augustus. The two-headed type above is far more common.  There are also two-headed Vabalthus and Aurelian Egyptian tetradrachms.

Return to page 2 of reverse types unique to a particular emperor.