Skip to content

Radiate, Radiant, Radiating

Radiate, Radiant, Radiating.  Rays disseminating outward as a design element on a numismatic or medallic item indicating radiant light as from a sun, a nimbus or aureole. The rays extend outwards in all directions from a center point that is most always obscured by a design element, or outside the design entirely (as the sun above the view shown as the design). A radiant design usually fills a large segment of the design, although it is often in the background.  See rays.

excerpted with permission from

An Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Technology

For Artists, Makers, Collectors and Curators

COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY D. WAYNE JOHNSON

Roger W. Burdette, Editor


NNP is 100% non-profit and independent // Your feedback is essential and welcome. // Your feedback is essential and welcome.