v29_0359 - AURELIAN Aurelianus

AURELIAN

(07/270-09/275)

Aurélien reformed the coinage of billon by creating a new coin, the aurelianus or antoninian with the mark XXI in the West or KA in the East. For 30 years and the thesis of J.-P. Callu, much has been said about the meaning of these marks which characterize the coins after the reform of 274. One of the hypotheses would have it that 20 aureliani containing 5% silver identical to a pure silver coin. These aureliani appear to be cut to 1/84th of a pound (3.87 g). Another theory long defended by the author consisted in explaining the exergue as a mark of value XX or K = I or A. The new denomination then corresponding to 20 sesterces (HS) which was the unit of account or 5 deniers. Today, the value of this new coin, aurelianus, would be 4 denarii. The return to monetary orthodoxy, thanks to the victories over Palmyra and the Gallic Empire, allowed a monetary restoration which was to survive, somehow, until the reform of Diocletian in 294, perhaps creating a significant rise in prices..