Antoninianus - Probus Cuirassed, left, spear and shield; MARTI PACIF; Mars
279 year| Silver | - | - |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Probus (Marcus Aurelius Probus) (276-282) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Year | 279 |
| 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#292896 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 95% |
Reverse
Mars, helmeted, in military attire, walking left, holding olive-branch in right hand and spear and shield in left hand.
Value mark (XXI) and officina mark (Δ) in exergue. Sometimes only the officina mark (Δ) in field.
Scripts: Latin, Greek
Lettering: MARTI PACIF
Unabridged legend: Marti Pacifero.
Translation: To Mars, the peacemaker.
Comment
RIC 543 was minted by the 4th officina (Δ/-//-; -/-//ΔXXI) of the Ticinum mint. The original RIC text mentions 1 variation/bust type (bust types according to Pierre Bastiens grouping of bust types; see illustrated: probvs.net) and 2 variants are known:
- Radiate, cuirassed, left, with spear and shield (F1 bust (example: probuscoins.fr #4034), Numista #292896);
- [var] Helmeted, radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand (E1 bust (example: probuscoins.fr #1211), not in Numista);
- [var] Radiate, heroically nude, left, holding spear in right hand and square shield (aegis) in left hand, from behind (F19 bust (example: probuscoins.fr #4523), not in Numista).
According to Pink, RIC 543 – with its obverse lettering nr. 4 (‘VIRTVS PROBI AVG’) combined with “MARTI PACIF” and exergue-/field mark Δ/-//- or -/-//ΔXXI – is part of the 6th emission, series A (without value mark ‘XXI’) and B (with value mark ‘XXI’), both series being minted in the year 279. See: Karl Pink, Der Aufbau der römischen Münzprägung in der Kaiserzeit VI/I, Wien, 1949, p. 52-53. Pink points out that the Ticinum mint only during the 6th emission temporarily switched to using Greek symbols for its 6 officinas (A, B, Γ, Δ, Є, ς).
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 military victories and to promote the cult of the Roman gods. The coin features Mars, the Roman god of war, on the reverse, holding a spear and shield, symbolizing the military prowess of the Roman Empire. The use of Mars on the coin was a common feature of Roman coins during this period, as the god was seen as a symbol of strength and power.
