Extremely rare denomination. "IA" means 10 to 1 in place of the usual 20 to 1 (parts copper to silver). Tacitus, 275-276. The previous emperor, Aurelian, initiated the XXI coin reform. Tacitus tried to take it further by issuing still better coins, but the short-lived reform flopped. Extant pieces (which say XI [Latin] or IA [Greek] are very rare, IA being the rarer. 23 mm. 3.105 grams. CLEMENTIA TEMP Mars standing left holding olive branch in right, spear in left and resting left on shield. RIC 214, page 320 "extremely rare". Essential for a collection of denominations. Sometimes called a "double aurelianus" because it has double the silver content of the XXI coins. See my academic article on the silver content of these: AlloyXI.pdf I have followed this denomination closely for twenty five years and it is very seldom offered. I don't think there have been any at vcoins or MA-Shops in the last few years. Do not confuse this "IA" (10 to 1) with the similar "KA" (20 to 1) type. [$195 + $5 shipping in the US, $8 abroad]
