Lucius Domitius Aurelianus, 270 - 275

About a fortnight after the death of Claudius II, Aurelian was proclaimed emperor by his troops. Three days later, the emperor Quintillus committed suicide and left Aurelian as the sole emperor. He was a superb soldier, and his campaigns restored the empire to its full extent, apart from Dacia, which was abandoned in 271. He put down the rival Palmyrene and Gallic empires, restoring the whole empire to central rule. He also undertook a revision of the coinage, which was in a most disreputable state. The main bronze coin, the antoninianus, had become so debased that it was worth virtually nothing. He passed new laws ensuring that the antoninianus must possess at least 5% silver. These reformed antoniniani are correctly called aurelianiani, and bear the letters "XXI" in the exergual space beneath the reverse picture. He was murdered in 275 by a cabal of his own senior officers.