Gaius Valarius Sabinus was a public officer in Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....

, during the reign of Emperor Aurelian

Aurelian

Aurelian , was Roman Emperor from 270 to 275. During his reign, he defeated the Alamanni after a devastating war. He also defeated the Goths, Vandals, Juthungi, Sarmatians, and Carpi. Aurelian restored the Empire's eastern provinces after his conquest of the Palmyrene Empire in 273. The following...

. After the revolt of Felicissimus

Felicissimus

Felicissimus was a public officer in Ancient Rome, during the reign of Emperor Aurelian. He is famous because he led an uprising of mint workers against the emperor, but was defeated and killed, possibly in 274, but more probably in 271....

 and the mint workers in the spring of 271, Aurelian appointed Sabinus as the new finance minister. He was first given the title agens vice rationalis ("acting in the place of rationalis

Rationalis

The rationalis was the Roman Empire's chief financial minister prior to the reforms of Emperor Diocletian and the Late Empire. Among the tasks of the rationalis were the collection of all normal taxes payable in coin and duties, the control of the currency, and the administration of mines, mints,...

"). This suggest he was given the office in the immediate aftermath of the riots. Later his position was confirmed officially, when he was given the title of v.p. rationalis.

Scholars believe that Sabinus was largely responsible for Aurelian's new financial and monentary policies. Sabinus set up his headquarters at Ticinum

Ticinum

Ticinum was an ancient city of Gallia Transpadana, founded on the banks of the river of the same name a little way above its confluence with the Padus ....

, where Aurelian's largest new mint was also located.

Sources

• Watson Alaric (1999), Aurelian and the Third Century, Routledge, London.