AR21 - Aurelian ΕΤΟΥϹ Ε

Year five of Aurelian's reign in Egypt — ΕΤΟΥϹ Ε — falls squarely in the aftermath of his reconquest of the breakaway Palmyrene Empire. Alexandria had been under Zenobia's administration since 270, and Egyptian mint output during that interlude reflects Palmyrene political authority. When Aurelian retook the province in 272, the Alexandrian mint resumed imperial production under Rome, making this regnal-year series a direct artifact of reunification.

The billon content by this point was severely degraded from earlier tetradrachm standards.