Felicissimus 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...

. 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.

Felicissimus was a 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,...

, the chief of the state treasury. One of the responsibilities of the rationalis was to administer the imperial mints. The workers of the mint in Rome had misappropriated bullion for the coinage and Felicissimus was held responsible. He started an uprising on the Caelian Hill

Caelian Hill

The Caelian Hill is one of the famous Seven Hills of Rome. Under reign of Tullus Hostilius, the entire population of Alba Longa was forcibly resettled on the Caelian Hill...

. He was defeated and killed with great difficulty; 7,000 soldiers were killed during this revolt (Aurelius Victor xxxv 6; Historia Augusta, Aurelianus, xxxviii 2-4). It is possible that this uprising was somehow connected with the senatorial and equestrian classes, as Aurelian executed several senators.

The fact that the mint of Rome was inactive for a short time before the monetary reform of 274

274

Year 274 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Aurelianus and Capitolinus...

 could be a consequence of this revolt.

Sources

• Aurelius Victor
  Aurelius Victor
  Sextus Aurelius Victor was a historian and politician of the Roman Empire.Aurelius Victor was the author of a History of Rome from Augustus to Julian , published ca. 361. Julian honoured him and appointed him prefect of Pannonia Secunda...
  
  , De Caesaribus, 35,6;
• Eutropius, Breviarium historiae Romanae, ix,14;
• Historia Augusta, Aurelianus, 38.2;