What does "debase the coinage" refer to in Aurelian's context?

In the context of Aurelian, "debase the coinage" refers specifically to the practice of mixing in less valuable metals to produce coins more cheaply. This term comes from the historical context where currencies were often made from precious metals like gold and silver. By debasing the coinage, a ruler or mint authority would reduce the precious metal content, thus lowering the intrinsic value of the coins while still maintaining their face value for transactions.

This practice was often employed to overcome economic difficulties, allowing rulers to produce more coins with less material. However, it could lead to inflation and a loss of public trust in the currency. Aurelian, who ruled during a challenging period for the Roman Empire, likely considered such practices in managing the empire's finances and stabilizing the economy.

The other options do not accurately capture the meaning of "debase the coinage." Increasing coin size or minting coins with different designs would not alter their intrinsic value in the same way. Revaluing the currency to make it more valuable would imply strengthening the currency rather than debasing it.