Roman, Julia Domna Augusta, wife of Septimus Severus, Gold Aureus 7.81g, found and recirculated in India, mid 3rd century, The aureus is an extremely rare type, ‘AETERNIT IMPERI’, struck in Rome, with draped bust of Julia Domna on obverse and confronted busts of her sons Caracalla laureate, draped and cuirassed facing right and Geta, bare-headed and draped facing left. About very fine, extremely rare. Struck in the years 201-202, this aureus is part of an impressive series of dynastic types, presumably marking the fifth anniversary of the dynasty that Septimius Severus had formed in early 196. The specific purpose of the issue is clear from the reverse type legend, AETERNIT IMPERI ('the eternity of the empire'), which illustrates the continuity of the Roman Empire and equates it with that of the Severan dynasty. The coin travelled to India, perhaps on a ship traversing the oceanic Indo-Roman trade networks in antiquity and most likely consumed as a high status exotic object made into jewellery. A gold plug was later inserted to bring the coin up to a correct weight, after it was worn through use. The plug interestingly has a Shrivatsa mark stamped on it, possibly legitimising the plug and its gold content. The coin offers a unique insight into Indo-Roman trade and the Indian practice of consumption of exotic monetary objects into cultural use.