Actually, the mark XXI or KA in Greek (K for 20 and A for 1) were here to prove that the coin was one of the reformed radiates. The weight of the coin presented here and the mark KAA appearing in the exergue of the reverse prove that it was minted after this monetary reform of Aurelian. The aurelianus was introduced to all the imperial mints during the spring of 274 CE (see Corbier, “Coinage and taxation,” p. 332-335 Estiot, “The Later Third Century,” p. 540-546). He ordered an increase in the percentage of silver contained in the radiate (fixed at around 5 %), to improve its weight (fixed at around 4 g, against 2.6 g for the denarius), but also to improve the quality of its manufacture. His aim was to go back to the system initially established by Caracalla. In 274 CE, Aurelian undertook a monetary reform in order to reverse the debasement process of the various denominations, and especially of the radiate, which then became the aurelianus. During that period, its silver content was reduced to pretty much nothing. The debasement reached its lowest point between 260 and 274 CE. Since Caracalla, the weight and silver content of the antoninianus were reduced, but the process then accelerated after 250 CE. Although its production was stopped by Elagabalus in 219 CE, Pupienus and Balbinus ordered that it should be produced again in 238 CE.

Many specialists think that its value was that of two denarii, but this remains debated. It had the same silver content as the denarius, but it was heavier (it weighed around 5 g). The antoninianus was a new silver coin that had been introduced by Caracalla in 215 CE. However, ‘radiate’ is a general denomination that can refer both to the antoninianus and to the aurelianus. Many Anglo-Saxon scholars used to call this denomination a ‘radiate’ as it is characterised by the fact that on its obverse there is a radiate imperial portrait.

Restitutor orbis