Antoninianus - Probus Cuirassed, left, spear and shield; ROMAE AETERNAE; Roma
277 year| Silver | 3.3 g | - |
| 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 |
| Weight | 3.3 g |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#293778 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Hexastyle temple, Roma seated in centre, facing left, holding globe in right hand and sceptre in left hand; beside her, shield.
Exergue mark followed by the officina mark.
Script: Latin
Lettering: ROMAE AETERNAE
Unabridged legend: Romae Aeternae.
Translation: Everlasting Rome.
Comment
RIC 739 was minted by the first to the sixth officina of the Siscia mint. The original RIC text mentions 4 different variations/different bust types (bust types according to Pierre Bastiens grouping of bust types; see illustrated: probvs.net), and there are also two variants known:
- Radiate, cuirassed, right, holding spear (bust F9, Alföldi - (*) (no examples published), Numista #293095);
- Helmeted, radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand (bust E1, Alföldi 060.011-018 (example: probuscoins #1907), Numista #293776);
- Radiate, wearing imperial mantle, left, holding sceptre surmounted by eagle in right hand (bust H2, Alföldi 060.004-007 (example: probuscoins #1909), Numista #293777);
- Radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand (bust F1, Alföldi 060.008-010 (example: probuscoins #2957), this coin);
- [var] Radiate, draped and cuirassed, holding spear, left (bust F5, Alföldi 060.014 (example: probuscoins #2554), not in Numista);
- [var] Radiate, draped and cuirassed, right (bust A2, Alföldi 060.015 (example: probuscoins #3117), not in Numista).
(*) 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 739 - with its obverse legend nr. 3 ('IMP C M AVR PROBVS PF AVG') and mint-/exergue mark style XXIP-XXIVI - is part of the 4th emission, which was in the year 277 (Karl Pink, Der Aufbau der römischen Münzprägung in der Kaiserzeit VI/I, Wien, 1949, p. 50-51).
OCRE states mistakenly that the obverse depicts "Hexastyle temple, Roma seated in centre, facing left, holding Victory in right hand and sceptre in left hand; beside her, shield". The original RIC text states: "Roma seated l. in temple, holding globe and sceptre; besides her, shield". For Roma holding Victory, see RIC 737.
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. The coin's design features a cuirassed (armored) figure of the emperor holding a spear and shield, symbolizing the empire's military strength and power. The coin's silver content and intricate design made it a valuable and highly sought-after collector's item, not only during the Roman Empire but also among modern-day numismatists.
