Antoninianus - Probus Cuirassed, right; VIRTVS AVG; Victory
| Silver | - | - |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Probus (Marcus Aurelius Probus) (276-282) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 276-277 |
| 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#419967 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 97% |
Reverse
Soldier, helmeted, in military attire, standing left, holding Victory in right hand and spear in left hand; to right, shield.
Officina, value mark (XX) and mintmark in exergue.
Script: Latin
Lettering: VIRTVS AVG
Unabridged legend: Virtus Augusti.
Translation: Courage of the emperor.
Comment
RIC 434 was minted by the 4th officina (QXXT) of the Ticinum mint (QXXT). 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 3 variations/different bust types (bust types according to Pierre Bastiens grouping of bust types; see illustrated: probvs.net), and there is also one variant known:
- Radiate, draped, right (A bust (no example on probuscoins), Numista #292782);
- Radiate, draped and cuirassed, right (A2 bust (no example on probuscoins), Numista #293545);
- Wearing imperial mantle, left, holding sceptre surmounted by eagle in right hand (bust H2 (**), example probuscoins #1012, Numista #293546);
- [var] (*) Cuirassed, right (B bust (no example on probuscoins), Numista #419967);
(*) The original RIC text does not mention the B bust (lettered the F bust in RIC). OCRE mistakenly lists the B bust in stead of the A2 bust and (**) lists - contrary to RIC - that the H2 bust the would be the bust of "Florian".
According to Pink, RIC 434 - with its obverse lettering nr. 3 ('IMP C M AVR PROBVS PF AVG') combined with 'VIRTVS AVG' - is part of the 2nd emission (the year 276) and 3rd emission (277) (Karl Pink, Der Aufbau der römischen Münzprägung in der Kaiserzeit VI/I, Wien, 1949, p. 60-61). According to Pink, the 4th officina used "VIRTVS AVG st. l", during the 3rd emission exclusively with the H2 bust (see Pink: "AZ" for "Adlerzepter" or 'eagle sceptre').
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 features a cuirassed bust of Probus on the obverse (front side) and a depiction of Victory on the reverse (back side). The use of Victory as a symbol of military triumph was a common theme in Roman coinage during this period.
