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Antoninianus - Probus Imperial mantle, left, sceptre surmounted by eagle; VIRTVS AVG

Antoninianus - Probus (Imperial mantle, left, sceptre surmounted by eagle; VIRTVS AVG) - obverseAntoninianus - Probus (Imperial mantle, left, sceptre surmounted by eagle; VIRTVS AVG) - reverse

© PrimeME

Features

Issuer RomeRoman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD)
Emperor Probus (Marcus Aurelius Probus) (276-282)
Type Standard circulation coins
Year 278
Value Antoninianus (1)
Currency Antoninianus, Reform of Caracalla (AD 215 – 301)
Composition Silver
Shape Round (irregular)
Technique Hammered
Orientation Variable alignment ↺
Demonetized Yes
Number
N#
413404
References RIC V.2# 238var a
Percy H. Webb, Harold Mattingly, Edward Allen Sydenham; 1933. The Roman Imperial Coinage / Volume 5.2. Marcus Aurelius Probus – Maximian (AD 276–310). Spink & Son, London, United Kingdom.
, OCRE# ric.5.pro.238
Online Coins of the Roman Empire (http://numismatics.org/ocre/)

Obverse

Bust of Probus, radiate, wearing imperial mantle, left, holding sceptre surmounted by eagle in right hand.

Script: Latin

Lettering: IMP PROBVS AVG

Unabridged legend: Imperator Probus Augustus.

Translation: Supreme commander (Imperator), Probus, emperor (Augustus).

Reverse

Soldier, helmeted, in military attire, standing left, resting right hand on shield and holding spear in left hand.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
VIRTVS AVG
In exergue R for Rome, followed by officina mark

Unabridged legend: Virtus Augusti.

Translation: Courage of the emperor.

Mint

Rome (ancient), Italy (?-476)

Comments

The original RIC lists RIC 238 as minted by the 2nd (R✶B) and 5th (R✶Є) officina and mentions 1 bust type (bust types according to Pierre Bastiens grouping of bust types; see illustrated: probvs.net). There are two know variants:

  1. Radiate, wearing imperial mantle, left, holding sceptre surmounted by eagle in right hand (bust H2, Guillemain (*) #317 (R✶Є), example: probuscoins #204, Numista #294753);
  2. [var] Radiate, cuirassed, right (bust B, Guillemain #321 (R✶Є), example: probuscoins #3621 (R✶Є), not in Numista);
  3. [var] Radiate, wearing imperial mantle, left, holding sceptre surmounted by eagle in right hand - VIRTVS AVG in stead of VIRTVS AVGVSTI - (bust H2, Guillemain #316 (R✶Є), example: probuscoins #3156 (R✶Є) and #2743 (R✶B), this coin).

(*) Jean Guillemain, La Monetazione di Probo a Roma (276-282), Ripostiglio della Venèra-Nuovo Catalogo Illustrato Vol III/1, 2009).

The variants with the B bust and the H2 bust with the reverse legend 'VIRTVS AVG' are variants of RIC 238 because it is the only coin of the Rome mint with the obverse legend 'IMP PROBVS AVG' and on the reverse a soldier standing left with shield and spear.

According to both Guillemain and Pink, RIC 238 is part of the 3rd emission (exergue/officina mark style: -/-//R✶Є; year 278). See Guillemain 2009 and Karl Pink, Der Aufbau der römischen Münzprägung in der Kaiserzeit VI/I, Wien, 1949, p. 41. An example with the exergue/mint mark RЄ is also known: probuscoins #4022, which is the exergue/officina mark style: of the 2nd emission (year 277).

See also

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Date VG F VF XF AU UNC
ND (278)  "R✶B" in exergue (2nd officina);
ND (278)  "R✶ϵ" in exergue (5th officina);

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