Antoninianus - Probus Cuirassed, left, spear and shield; ADVENTVS AVG
| Silver | 3.5 g | 21.5 mm |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Probus (Marcus Aurelius Probus) (276-282) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 278-280 |
| Value | Antoninianus (1) |
| Currency | Antoninianus, Reform of Caracalla (AD 215 – 301) |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 3.5 g |
| Diameter | 21.5 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#415784 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Probus, riding left, raising right hand and holding sceptre in left hand; sometimes at his feet, captive.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
ADVENTVS AVG
In exergue XXI followed by officina mark, sometimes officina mark in field.
Unabridged legend: Adventus Augusti.
Translation: Adventus (Roman welcoming ceremony) of the emperor.
Comment
According to RIC, RIC 629 was minted by the first (XXIP) to the sixth (XXIVI) officina of the Siscia mint. The original RIC text mentions 3 different variations/different bust types (bust types according to Pierre Bastiens grouping of bust types; see illustrated: probvs.net) (*), and there are also multiple variants known:
- helmeted, radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand (E1 bust, Alföldi (**) 005.083-088 (example: probuscoins.fr #2920), Numista #292985);
- radiate, wearing imperial mantle, left, holding sceptre surmounted by eagle in right hand (H2 bust, Alföldi 005.065-071 (example: probuscoins.fr #370), Numista #415783);
- radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand (F1 bust, Alföldi 005.077-082 (example: probuscoins.fr #3550), Numista #415784);
- [var] radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand, from behind (F8 bust, Alföldi - (example: probuscoins.fr #3851), Numista #415786);
- [var] helmeted, radiate, cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield, from behind (E2 bust, Alföldi 005.089 (example: probuscoins.fr #3969), not in Numista);
- [var] radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear (F5 bust, Alföldi 005.072-076 (example: probuscoins.fr #4990), not in Numista).
(*) OCRE mistakenly only lists the F1 variation/bust type.
(**) Andreas Alföldi, Vorarbeiten zu einem Corpus der in Siscia geprägten römischen Kaisermünzen. Heft V. Verzeichnis der Antoniniane des Kaisers Probus, Budapest, 1939.
According to Pink, RIC 629, with its obverse legend nr. 2 ('IMP C M AVR PROBVS P AVG') is part of the 5th (exergue-/officina mark style: -/-//XXIT) emission, which was in the year 278 (Karl Pink, Der Aufbau der römischen Münzprägung in der Kaiserzeit VI/I, Wien, 1949, p. 52). RIC also lists exergue-/officina mark T/-//XXI, which is also listed by Alföldi (005.072 and 005.073). According to Pink, the letter T, as field mark for the third officina, was only used in Siscia as part of the 7th emission (year 280). However, Pink does not list 'ADVENTVS AVG' being used during the 7th emission.
Interesting fact
The Antoninianus coin was issued during the reign of Probus (278-280 AD), who was known for his military campaigns and agricultural reforms. One of his most notable achievements was his efforts to increase the empire's agricultural production, which led to the introduction of new crops and farming techniques. This coin, which features Probus in a cuirassed and spear-wielding pose, symbolizes his military prowess and leadership during a time of significant social and economic change in the Roman Empire.
