Contorniates, late 4th-early 5h century. Contorniate (Bronze, 37 mm, 22.00 g, 7 h). ωMH-POC Bare-headed and draped bust of Homer to right; before, incuse palm frond (engraved). Rev. AVR-ELIANVS Charioteer standing in quadriga to right, head to left, holding whip in his right hand and palm frond in his left; in exergue, the names of the four horses in the form of monograms. Alföldi 92 and pl. 30, 11-12. Very rare. Somewhat smoothed, otherwise, nearly fine.

The habit of naming both the driver as well as the horses of chariots on late Roman contorniates demonstrates the importance of chariot races in ancient Rome: both human and animal victors were public celebrities, who were patronized by the elite and celebrated by the masses. Here we have the charioteer Aurelianus, whose horses are named in the form of four monograms on the reverse, whereas the obverse shows the most famous poet of antiquity, Homer