Vabalathus and Aurelian Roman AE (NGC Certified Slab)

Own a certified Roman bronze AE of Vabalathus and Aurelian, authenticated and slabbed by NGC. This fascinating coin captures a rare moment when two rulers — one a Roman emperor, the other a breakaway king — appeared together in uneasy alliance.

Vabalathus was the son of Queen Zenobia of Palmyra, the powerful desert city-state that rose to prominence as Roman authority in the East weakened during the Crisis of the Third Century. After Zenobia's revolt against Rome, Vabalathus assumed the title of "King of Kings" and claimed the imperial dignity, challenging Rome’s supremacy over the East.

Meanwhile, Aurelian (AD 270–275), one of Rome’s greatest military emperors, sought to restore unity. In a temporary political compromise, coins were minted showing both Aurelian and Vabalathus, suggesting nominal cooperation — though real tensions remained. Soon after, Aurelian marched east, defeated Zenobia and Vabalathus, and brought Palmyra back under Roman control.

AE coins featuring both Aurelian and Vabalathus typically depict Aurelian’s imperial portrait on the obverse, while the reverse names or honors Vabalathus as "King" or "VIR CLARISSIMUS REX," a remarkable acknowledgment of his brief reign.

Certified by NGC, this bronze coin offers a rare glimpse into the political complexities and fragile alliances of the third century. A must-have for collectors fascinated by Roman civil wars, imperial propaganda, or the fleeting empires that briefly challenged Rome’s power.