With reference to the Indo-Roman trade in ancient India, the term 'aurei' refers to :

In the context of ancient Indo-Roman trade, the term 'aurei' (plural of aureus) refers to the standard gold coins of the Roman Empire. During the early centuries of the Christian era, there was a flourishing maritime trade between Rome and South India.

• Trade Balance: India exported luxury items like black pepper (known as 'Yavanapriya'), silk, and muslin. In return, Rome paid primarily in gold and silver bullion.
• Archaeological Evidence: Large hoards of Roman aurei and denarii (silver coins) have been discovered at various sites in South India, such as Arikamedu and Coimbatore, proving the scale of this currency flow.
• Historical Record: The Roman historian Pliny the Elder famously lamented the massive drain of Roman gold to India, which he estimated at fifty million sesterces annually, highlighting the significance of these coins in ancient commerce.