The marvellous world of RADIATES

A Moorhead / Lunatics Anonymous Production

MMVIII

8 Groups of Radiates

1 Radiate busts on Dupondii (27BC – AD 260)

(therefore not radiate denominations)

2 The introduction of the Radiate denomination by Caracalla (AD 211-17)

3 The silver radiate (AD 238-260)

(Reece Period 12)

8 Groups of Radiates contd.

4 The base Radiates, AD 260-75The most common of all (Reece 13)a) Central Empire (Gallienus, Claudius II, Aurelian, etc)b) Gallic Empire (Postumus, Victorinus, the Tetrici, etc.)

5. The reformed (often silver-washed radiate), AD 275-96 (Reece 14)a) Tacitus, Probus, Carus, Diocletian etc.b) Carausius and Allectus in Britain & Gaul

8 Groups of Radiates contd.

6 “Barbarous Radiates”, c. AD 275-85,

(all in Reece 14)

7 Post-Reform (post-296) radiates of Diocletian, Maximian, Constantius and Galerius (do not really reach Britain)

(Reece 15)

8 4th century nummi with radiate busts, AD 317-330 (Reece 16)

1. Dupondii with radiate bustsc. 27 BC – AD 260

• Radiate bust is a representation of Sol the Sun God

• Radiate bust helps to differentiate between the Dupondius and the As

Dupondius of Hadrian, AD 117-138

2. The introduction of the Radiate

• Introduced by Caracalla (211-17 – used to be called the Antoninianus after him)

• Weighed only 1.5 denarii, so was it actually a double denarius?

• Only short-lived, AD 215-222

2. Introduction of the Antoninianus contd.

• Scarce Radiate of Elagabalus (218-22), Mint of Rome:

• VICTOR ANTONINI AVG

• Found in Pocklington area, East Yorks.

(YORYM-476B46)

3 The Silver RadiatesAD 238-60 (Reece Period 12)

Re-introduced by Balbinus and Pupienus (238) – rare!

Balbinus PIETAS MVTVA AVGG, Rome mint

3 The Silver RadiatesAD 238-60 (Reece Period 12)

• Gradually declining silver content, but still silver in appearance

• Generally scarce as site-finds

• Gordian III (238-44) the most common

Silver radiate of Gordian III, AD 238-44,Rome, IOVI STATORI (IOW-ECEC22)

3. Philip I and Philip IIAD 244-9

Base silver radiate of Phillip I, LAET FVNDATA, mint of Rome, 244-7,Stogursey, Somerset (SOM-420972)Note: the Nose and beard!

Base silver radiate of Philip II, asCaesar, PRINCIPI IVVENT, Mint of Rome, 245-6, Twycross, Leics. (LEIC-21A411)Note: more baby-faced!

3. Otacilia Severa (wife of Philip I (244-9)

Silver radiate of Otacilia Severa, Mint of Rome, CONCORDIA AVGG, c. 246-8.Note the crescent moon behind the bust; the female version of the radiate crown(Leics - LEIC-8C9CF7)

3.Trajan Decius and family (249-51)

Silver radiate of Trajan Decius, Rome, VICTORIA AVG;Chesterton, Oxon (Hamp422)

3. Herennia Etruscilla, wife of Trajan Decius (249-51)

PVDICITIA AVG, Rome mint

3. Herennia Etruscilla, wife of Trajan Decius (249-51)

Copper alloy plated-radiate contemporary copy of HERENNIA ETRVSCILLA, uncertain reverse, Rome, AD 249-51. Rudston, E. Yorks (YORYM-331DC3)

3. Herennius Etruscus and Hostilian (sons of Trajan Decius)

Herennius Etruscus,PIETAS AVGVSTORVM,Rome Mint

Hostilian,MARTI PROPVGNATORI,Rome Mint

3. Trebonianus Gallus and family (251-3)

LIBERTAS PVBLICA, Rome mint

3 Contd.: Volusian, son of Trebonianus Gallus, 251-3

CONCORDIA AVGG, Rome

3: Aemilian, usurper who defeated Trebonianus Gallus, AD 253

MARTI PROPVGT, Rome

3 Contd.: Valerian I and family, 253-60

ORIENS AVGG, Lyon Mint Coins from Lyon for Valerian and family are the mostcommonly found in Britain

3: Mariniana, wife of Valerian

CONSECRATIO, Rome

3: Gallienus, Joint Reign, son of Valerian, 253-60

DEO MARTI, Lyon Coins from Lyon for Valerian and family are the mostcommonly found in Britain

3: Salonina, wife of Gallienus (Joint Reign, 253-60)

FELICITAS PVBLICA, Lyon Coins from Lyon for Valerian and family are the mostcommonly found in Britain

3: Valerian II, son of Gallienus, 256-8

IOVI CRESCENTI, Rome

3: Saloninus, son of Gallienus, 258-9

PIETAS AVG, Lyon mint Coins from Lyon for Valerian and family are the mostcommonly found in Britain

4: Base Radiates of 260-75 (Reece Period 13) – The most common radiates – Two major groups:

1. Central Empire: Gallienus and Salonina (sole reign), Claudius II, Divus Claudius, Quintillus and Aurelian

2. Gallic Empire: Postumus, Laelian, Marius, Victorinus, Domitian,

Tetricus I & II

Peak of 3rd century Radiate hoards Why?

Cunetio Hoard of over 55,000 3rd century coins: latest coin c. AD275

Largest hoard from Britain

Massive rise in coin loss in period 13 (AD 260-75): did small denominations provide access for all to

the money economy?

Britain All Sites (Reece 1995) Per Mills

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21

Reece Periods

Per

Mil

ls

Series1

4 Contd.: Central Empire: Gallienus and Salonina (Sole Reign), 260-8

Note: GALLIENVS AVG isthe most common obverselegend for Gallienus

A coin from Gallienus’ Zoo, Mintof Rome: IOVI CONS AVG,Goat left – Delta = 4th Officina orWorkshop

ABVNDANTIA AVG, Rome,B denotes the 2nd Officina orWorkshop

Note: coins of the sole reign ofGallienus and Salonina are muchmore common than coins for the earlier Joint Reign

4: Salonina (sole reign of Gallienus, 260-8)

FECVNDITAS AVG, Rome, Delta = 4th Officina / Workshop

Note how more base the coins of Gallienus and Salonina are after AD 260

4 Contd.: Central Empire:Claudius II Gothicus, AD 268-70

Note: most common obverselegend is IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG or IMP CLAVDIVS AVG

AEQVITAS AVG, Rome

FIDES EXERCI, RomeXI denotes the 11th officina orworkshop

4. Contd.: Central EmpireDivus Claudius, AD 270

(many are Barbarous Radiates, hence go into Period 14)

CONSECRATIO, Altar, MilanT = 3rd officina / workshop

CONSECRATIO, Altar, MilanS = 2nd officina / workshop

4 Contd.: Central Empire: Quintillus, AD 270

(Note: curly hair)

PROVID AVG, Milan T = 3rd officina / workshop

4 Contd. Central Empire: Aurelian and Severina, 270-5

ORIENS AVG, Rome, VI = 6th

Officina / Workshop

IOVI CONSER, Rome, S = 2nd

Officina / Workshop

5. Central Empire: Severina, 270-275

CONCORDIA AVGG, Rome, 6th officina / workshopXXI = c. 5% silver

4. Contd: Gallic Empire:Postumus, 260-69

• These coins are often quite silver – more so than the contemporary issues of Gallienus

5. Gallic Empire: Postumus260-69

PAX AVG, Principal mint in Gaul

4. Gallic Empire: Laelian, 269Very rare as site-finds

VICTORIA AVG, Gaulish Mint

4. Gallic Empire: Laelian, 269

VICTORIA AVG; Bickmarsh, Worcs. WAW-05D402

4 Contd.: Gallic EmpireMarius, 269 – very scarce

CONCORDIA MILITVM,Gaul Mint 1

VICTORIA AVG, Gaul Mint 2

4 Contd.: Gallic Empire:Victorinus, 269-71: Mint 1

(note the nose and beard)

INVICTVS, Sol, Gaul Mint 1 – Common type

4. Gallic Empire: Victorinus, 269-71: Mint I contd common types

FIDES MILITVM, Fides hdg 2 standards SALVS AVG, Salus stg. l. at altar,feeding snake

PAX AVG, Pax stg l., hdg TRANSVERSEsceptre

VIRTVS AVG, Virtus stg. r., hdg.shield and spear

4. Gallic Empire: Victorinus, 269-71: Mint II common types

AEQVITAS AVG, Aequitas hdg scalesand cornucopiae

SALVS AVG, Salus feeding snakeheld in arms

PIETAS AVG, Pietas stg left at altar

PROVIDENTIA AVG, Providentia l.,hdg baton over globe, and cornucopiae

4. Gallic Empire: Domitianus, 271 from the Chalgrove Hoard (Oxon)

CONCORDIA MILITVM

4. Gallic Empire:Tetricus I, 271-4, Mint I common types

SPES PVBLICA, Spes adv l, hdgflower and lifting skirt

VICTORIA AVG, Victory l, hdg wreathand palm

COMES AVG, Victory l, hdg wreath andpalm

PAX AVG, Pax stg l., hdg VERTICALSceptre and branch

4. Contd.: Gallic Empire:Tetricus I, 271-4, Mint I contd.

VIRTVS AVGG, Virtus stg. l, hdg shieldand spear

HILARITAS AVG, Hilaritas stg l, holding palmand cornucopiae

SALVS AVGG, Salus stg l, holdingrudder and feeding snake entwinedaround altar

5. Gallic Empire: Tetricus I, 271-4Mint II common types

FIDES MILITVM, Fides hdg two standards

LAETITIA AVGG, Laetitia stg l, hdgpurse and anchor

LAETITIA AVGN, Laetitia stg l, hdgpurse and anchor

4 Contd.: Gallic Empire:Tetricus II (271-4) – no beard

Mint I: PRINC IVVENT, Prince stg l,hdg branch and spear

Mint I: SPES AVGG, Spes adv l,hdg flower and skirt

Mint II: PIETAS AVGG, Sacrificalimplements

Mint II: PIETAS AVGVSTOR,Sacrificial implements

Group 5: Silver-Washed Radiates, AD 275-96 (Reece Period 14)

(generally larger, rounder flans than Gallic Empire coins)

Two main groups:

1. Central Empire: Tacitus, Florian, Probus, Carus, Numerian, Carinus, Magnia Urbica, Diocletian and Maximian

** All the above generally much scarcer than Reece Period 13 coins (Gallienus, Claudius II, Victorinus & Tetrici)

2. British Empire: Carausius and Allectus

5: Central Empire: Tacitus, 275-6Note the beard under chin

PAX AVGVSTI, Siscia Mint

PAX PVBLICA, Lyon Mint

5: Central Empire: Florian, 276

VIRTVS AVGVSTI, Lyon Mint

5: Central Empire: Probus, 276-82

TEMPOR FELICI, Lyon Mint

5. Central Empire: Probus, 282-6

ADVENTVS AVG, Rome mint

SOLI INVICTO, Rome

5: Central Empire: Carus, 282-3

PAX AVGG, Lugdunum Mint

5: Central Empire: Numerian, 283-4

PRINCIPI IVVENTVT, Ticinum -//VIXXI

5. Central Empire: Carinus, 283-5

SAECVLI FELICITAS, Lugdunum

6. Central Empire: Magnia Urbica (wife of Carinus), 283-5

VENVS GENETRIX, Lugdunum mint

5: Central Empire: pre-reform radiate of Diocletian, 284-96

IOVI AVGG, Lugdunum mint

5. Central Empire: Diocletian

CONCORDIA MILITVM, Cyzicus

5. Central Empire: pre-reform radiate of Maximian, 286-96

HERCVLI PACIFERO, Lyon

5. British Empire: Carausius, 286-93

LAETITIA, London mint - F O//ML

5. British Empire: Carausius, 286-93

PAX AVG (the most common type for Carausius), C Mint S P//C

5. British Empire: Carausius for Diocletian, 286-93

Hinton on the Green, Worcestershire, WAW 747B03

PAX AVGGG, MLXXI

5. British Empire: Carausius in the name of Maximian

PAX AVGGG, London Mint - note: MLXXI

5. British Empire: Allectus, 293-6

PAX AVG, London

5. British Empire: Allectus, Q Radiates of London and C Mint

VIRTVS AVG, Galley, London

VIRTVS AVG, Galley, C Mint

Note this type also LAETITIAAVG and Galley at both mints

6. Barbarous Radiates, c. 275-85(Reece Period 14)

• We generally date them all to c. 275-85

• Enter under ruler dropdown: ‘Radiate, Barbarous’, but include details of prototype in Description Box:

e.g. Copper alloy contemporary copy of a radiate (‘barbarous radiate’, copying a coin of Tetricus I (271-4), Pax reverse, struck c. 275-85. Cun. c.f. 2985

6. Barbarous radiate of Gallienus

Copy of an AETERNITAS AVG coin ofGallienusWallington, Herts. BH-EE4582

6. Barbarous Radiate: Divus Claudius

Barbarous DIVVS CLAVDIVS, Altar Issue

from Ashwell, Herts BH-0AB7B7

6. Barbarous Radiates, c. 275-85: to make up for shortage of coins after reforms of

Aurelian, 270-5, and fall of Tetricus, AD 274

Very base copy of a coin of

Postumus. Shropshire

HESH-8317C5An official base silver radiate of

Postumus, 260-269

Paulerspury, Northants

NARC-393C97

6. Official coin and copy of Victorinus

6. Barbarous Radiates, c. 275-85: to make up for shortage of coins after reforms of

Aurelian, 270-5, and fall of Tetricus, AD 274.

Barbarous radiate, copying

coin of Tetricus II (271-4)

Wallington, Herts. BH-EC16B8

Barbarous radiate, probably copying

Victorinus or Tetricus I

Clothall, Herts. BH-DD5B78

6. Barbarous Radiates

Barbarous radiate, Breedon on the Hill,

Leics. DENO-D97B14

Pierced Barbarous radiate,

prob copying Tetricus I,

Victory or Spes type, Ashwell,

Herts BH-8A4913

Roman or Anglo-Saxon re-use

6. Probable copy of Allectus

7. Post-Reform Radiates of Diocletian and Tetrarchs, post-296

• I know of none found in Britain

• Most common in

Italy and North

Africa

VOT XX, Rome (296-7)

8. Radiate busts on Nummi of the period 317-30 (House of Constantine)

(Reece Period 16)

Constantine II, VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP, London, 320-1

Ruler Dropdowns for uncertain and barbarous radiate coins

• 1. Barbarous Radiates come under Ruler Dropdown, ‘Radiate barbarous’ (Reece 14)

• 2. Smaller or Gallic base radiates which are uncertain come under ‘Uncertain Ruler, 260-75’ (Reece 13)

• 3. Larger radiates which are uncertain come under ‘Uncertain Ruler, 275-96’ (Reece 14)