Antoninianus - Probus Cuirassed, right; VIRTVS AVGVSTI

Reverse

Probus, standing left, crowning trophy with right hand and holding sceptre in left hand; to left, captive.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
VIRTVS AVGVSTI
In exergue: R (Rome mint mark) followed by the officina mark.

Unabridged legend: Virtus Augusti.

Translation: Courage of the emperor.

Comment

The original RIC text lists RIC 243 with the mint-/exergue mark 'R' (for Rome, undefined officina), 'RB' (2nd officina), 'RΔ' (4th), 'RЄ' (5th) and 'RZ' (7th) and mentions 1 bust type (bust types according to Pierre Bastiens grouping of bust types; see illustrated: probvs.net). There are two know variants:

1. Radiate, cuirassed, right (B bust, Guillemain (**) #84 (R), #141 (RΔ), example: probuscoins #102, this coin);
2. [var] Radiate, draped, right (A bust, , Guillemain #77 (R) #101 (-), #147 (RΔ), #181 (RZ), example: probuscoins #2132, Numista #412565);
3. [var] Radiate, cuirassed or draped, right, holding spear in left hand (F9 bust, Guillemain #80 (R), #118 (RB), #144 (RΔ), example: probuscoins #2134, not in Numista);
4. [var] Radiate, heroically nude, left, holding spear and round aegis, from behind (F19 var bust, Guillemain #92 (R), example: probuscoins #4897, not in Numista).

(*) Jean Guillemain, La Monetazione di Probo a Roma (276-282), Ripostiglio della Venèra-Nuovo Catalogo Illustrato Vol III/1, 2009.

The variants (A, F9 and F19 bust) are a variant of RIC 243 because that is the only coin of the Rome mint with the obverse legend 'IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG', the reverse legend 'VIRTVS AVGVSTI' and on the reverse Probus, standing left, crowning trophy and holding sceptre; to left, captive.

According to both Guillemain and Pink, RIC 243 is part of the 2nd emission (exergue-/mint mark style: -/-//RЄ) which is in the year 277. See Guillemain 2009 and Karl Pink, Der Aufbau der römischen Münzprägung in der Kaiserzeit VI/I, Wien, 1949, p. 41.

Interesting fact