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State Library of New South Wales
Roman Egyptian coin of the reign of the Emperor Aurelianus found at Lone Pine in 1915

Roman Egyptian coin of the reign of the Emperor Aurelianus found at Lone Pine in 1915

Bronze Billon tetradrachm of Aurelian, Alexandria, 273–274 AD

R 29

Presented by Sergeant WF Adamson


Imagine his surprise when Sergeant WF Adamson of the Australian 1st Light Horse Regiment came across this ancient coin while digging trenches at Lone Pine (Gallipoli) in August 1915 – evidence of the multiple layers of history on this site. This coin was struck at Alexandria in the reign of the Roman Emperor Aurelianus, AD 270–275.


Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire in 30 BC. Unlike other provinces it had a centrally administered coinage produced by the Roman administration. Nonetheless, like other provincial coinages the basic design consisted of the emperor's portrait on the obverse (front) and a local design on the reverse.

Gallipoli is an ancient site that has witnessed conflict for thousands of years. 


Roman authorities at Alexandria in 274 struck a new tetradrachma on a thick, dumpy flan …

AD stands for Anno Domini (in the Year of our Lord) – the prevalent method for naming years. The dating system was devised in 525, but was not widely used until after 800.

Sergeant Watson Frazer Adamson was a farmer from Trial Bay, NSW before he embarked in 1914 to serve with the AIF. He was wounded at Lone Pine, Gallipoli on 7 August 1915.


Lucius Domitius Aurelianus, or Aurelian,  (214 or 215 – 275) was Emperor of the Roman Empire from 270 – 275. 


Some of the trenches at Lone Pine were dug on top of an ancient Roman settlement.  


The French city of Orléans is named after Aurelian.


The Anzacs found Roman items such as coins and pottery when digging the trenches.