Antoninianus - Probus (Draped and cuirassed, right; RESTITVT ORBIS; Victory) (276-277) front Antoninianus - Probus (Draped and cuirassed, right; RESTITVT ORBIS; Victory) (276-277) back
Antoninianus - Probus (Draped and cuirassed, right; RESTITVT ORBIS; Victory) (276-277) photo
© PrimeME

Antoninianus - Probus Draped and cuirassed, right; RESTITVT ORBIS; Victory

 
Silver 4.60 g 23.39 mm
Description
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
Weight
4.60 g
Diameter
23.39 mm
Shape
Round (irregular)
Technique
Hammered
Orientation
Variable alignment ↺
Demonetized
Yes
Updated
2024-10-05
References
Numista
N#399265
Rarity index
97%

Reverse

Victory, winged, draped, standing right, presenting wreath to Probus, standing left, holding spear.
Star in lower field.
Mintmark followed by officina (sometimes between dots) in exergue.

Script: Latin

Lettering: RESTITVT ORBIS

Unabridged legend: Restitutor Orbis.

Translation: Restorer of the city (Rome).

Comment

This coin is unpublished in RIC. It was minted by the Serdica mint, according to the coins published on probuscoins.fr and probvs.net, by the first to the fourth officina as part of the second emission. As with RIC 851 (second emission) and RIC 856 (fifth emission), this coin has two bust variants (bust type according to Pierre Bastiens grouping of bust types):

  1. Bust of Probus, radiate, draped, cuirassed, right (bust A2); RIC 851 | RIC 856 (this coin);
  2. Bust of Probus, radiate, cuirassed, right (bust B); RIC 851 | RIC 856 (Numista #392514).

The obverse legend is part of RIC 856 (IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG) and the reverse legend is part of RIC 851 (RESTITVT ORBIS). The mint marks of the published coins are mostly according to RIC 851 (*//KAA | *//KAB) or 856 (*//KA•Γ•). The depiction on the reverse side is according to RIC 851. Therefore, this coin is listed on probuscoins.fr and probvs.net (link to the variant) as a variant of (mostly) RIC 851 and (somewhat) RIC 856.

Published examples on probuscoins.fr:

  • #2619; bust B; -/✶//KAA; officina 1;
  • #3033; bust B; -/✶//KAB; officina 2;
  • #798; bust B; -/✶//KAB; officina 2;
  • #815; bust B; -/✶//KA•Γ•; officina 3;
  • #1870; bust B; -/✶//KA•Γ•; officina 3;
  • #2620; bust B; -/✶//KAΓ; officina 3;
  • #3042; bust B; -/✶//KA•Γ•; officina 3;
  • #4381; bust B; -/✶//KAΔ; officina 4;
  • #4962; bust B; -/✶//KAΔ; officina 4;
  • #3025; bust A2; -/✶//KAB; officina 2;
  • #832; bust A2; -/✶//KA•Γ•; officina 3;
  • #1869; bust A2; -/✶//KA•Γ•; officina 3;
  • #2618; bust A2; -/✶//KA•Γ•; officina 3;
  • #3490; bust A2; -/✶//KAΔ; officina 4;

Interesting fact

One interesting fact about the Antoninianus - Probus coin is that it features the image of the Roman goddess Victory on the reverse side, which symbolizes the victory of the Roman Empire over its enemies and highlights the power and prestige of the Roman state during the reign of Emperor Probus (276-282 AD).