Antoninianus - Probus Cuirassed, left, spear and shield, from behind; CONCORD MILIT; Concordia
277 year| Silver | - | - |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Probus (Marcus Aurelius Probus) (276-282) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Year | 277 |
| Value | Antoninianus (1) |
| Currency | Antoninianus, Reform of Caracalla (AD 215 – 301) |
| Composition | Silver |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#293441 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Probus, standing right, clasping hands with Concordia, standing left.
Officina mark (P), value mark (XX) and mintmark (T) in exergue, sometimes star (✶) in field.
Script: Latin
Lettering: CONCORD MILIT
Unabridged legend: Concordia Militum.
Translation: Harmony with the soldiers.
Comment
RIC 332 was minted by the 1th officina (PXXT) of the Ticinum mint (PXXT). The XX stands for 20 parts alloy (instead of the more usual XXI for a copper to silver ratio of 20:1). The original RIC text mentions 4 variations/different bust types (bust types according to Pierre Bastiens grouping of bust types; see illustrated: probvs.net), and also two variants are known to exist:
- Radiate, draped and cuirassed, right (A2 bust, example: probuscoins.fr #332, Numista N# 292680);
- Radiate, cuirassed, right (B bust, example: probuscoins.fr #2426, Numista N# 293439);
- Radiate, wearing imperial mantle, left, holding sceptre surmounted by eagle in right hand (H2 bust, example: probuscoins.fr #332, Numista N# 293440);
- Radiate, cuirassed, left, with spear and shield, seen from back (F8 bust, example: probuscoins.fr #981, Numista N# 293441);
- [var] Helmeted, radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand (E1 bust, example: probuscoins.fr #4689, not in Numista);
- [var] Helmeted, radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand, seen from back (E2 bust, example: Auction 130 Numismatik Naumann, lot 718, not in Numista).
According to Pink, RIC 332 – with its obverse lettering Nr. 1 (‘IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG’) combined with “CONCORD MILIT” and exergue mark PXXT – is part of the 2nd emission (year 276) and 3rd emission (277). See: Karl Pink, Der Aufbau der römischen Münzprägung in der Kaiserzeit VI/I, Wien, 1949, p. 48-49. According to Pink, the A2 and B bust were used during the 2nd emission sometimes combined with a star (✶) in field and during the 3rd emission only the H2 bust was used and the star (✶) was used this emission as well (and then only again in the 10th emission when RIC 332 was not minted). Although not listed by Pink, coins with the remaining busts (F8, E1 and E2) are also of the 3rd emission, because these busts were used in that 3rd emission and not at all during the 2nd emission.
Interesting fact
The Antoninianus - Probus coin was part of a series of coins issued during the reign of Emperor Probus (276-282 AD) to celebrate the Roman Empire's military victories and to promote unity and concord among the Roman people. The coin's design features a cuirassed (armored) figure of the emperor holding a spear and shield, symbolizing the empire's military strength and protection. The coin's reverse side features the goddess Concordia, representing unity and harmony, which was a key theme during Probus' reign.
