Antoninianus - Probus Draped, right; PROVIDENTIA AVG N; Providentia
277 year| Silver | - | - |
| 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 |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#293083 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Providentia, draped, standing left, holding baton in right hand and cornucopiae in left hand; at her feet, globe.
Officina mark sometimes in field (ς).
Value (XXI) or KA in exergue.
Scripts: Greek, Latin
Lettering:
PROVIDENTIA AVG N
ς
XXI or KA
Unabridged legend: Providentia Augusti Nostri.
Translation: Providence of our emperor.
Comment
According to RIC, RIC 727 was minted by the sixth (-/ς//XXI or -/ς//KA) officina of the Siscia mint. Most published examples only have a value mark in exergue (XXI) and no officina mark. The original RIC text mentions 2 different variations/different bust types (bust types according to Pierre Bastiens grouping of bust types; see illustrated: probvs.net), and there is one variant known:
- radiate, draped, right (A bust, Alföldi (*) - (example: probuscoins.fr #1303), Numista #293083);
- radiate, cuirassed, right (B bust, Alföldi 054.003-004 (example: probuscoins.fr #1317), Numista #293761);
- [var] radiate, draped and cuirassed, right (A2 bust, Alföldi 054.001-002 (example: probuscoins.fr #2548), Numista #416027).
RIC does not list the A2 bust (Probus, draped and cuirassed, right) but only the A bust (Probus, draped, right). See for example RIC 651 where the A2 and A bust are separately listed. However, the A bust seems to be much rarer.
(*) 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 727, with its obverse legend 'inv' ('IMP PROBVS INV AVG'), reverse legend 'PROVIDENTIA AVG N', is part of the 2nd emission (exergue-/officina mark style: -/ς//XXI), which was in the year 277 (Karl Pink, Der Aufbau der römischen Münzprägung in der Kaiserzeit VI/I, Wien, 1949, p. 50).
Interesting fact
The Antoninianus - Probus coin was issued during the reign of Emperor Probus (276-282 AD), who was known for his efforts to restore the Roman Empire's economy and military. The coin's design features the goddess Providentia on the reverse, which symbolizes the emperor's focus on maintaining the empire's prosperity and security. The use of silver in the coin's composition also reflects the empire's efforts to introduce a new, more stable currency system during this time.