Antoninianus - Probus Helmeted, cuirassed, left, spear and shield; VIRTVS AVGVSTI

Reverse

Probus, standing left, crowning trophy; at his feet, captive.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
VIRTVS AVGVSTI
In exergue value mark (XXI), followed by officina mark.

Unabridged legend: Virtus Augusti.

Translation: Courage of the emperor.

Comment

RIC 803, 804 and 805 are all minted by the Siscia mint. The reverses all depict: 'Probus, standing left, crowning trophy; at his feet, captive'. RIC 803, 804 and 805 are also the only coins of the Siscia mint with this reverse. They also all have the same reverse legend: 'VIRTVS AVGVSTI'. They only differ in obverse legend and, in part, in busts and officina.

According to Pink RIC 804 and 805 are part of the 5th emission (year 278, exergue/officina mark style: -/-//XXIP). Pink does not list the obverse legend of RIC 803 but does list another variant legend: 'IMP CM AVR PROBVS P AVG'. Alföldi also lists this obverse legend. See: Karl Pink, Der Aufbau der römischen Münzprägung in der Kaiserzeit VI/I, Wien, 1949, p. 52 and Andreas Alföldi, Vorarbeiten zu einem Corpus der in Siscia geprägten römischen Kaisermünzen. Heft V. Verzeichnis der Antoniniane des Kaisers Probus, Budapest, 1939, #091.001-009. This variant legend is listed as a variant of RIC 803 on probuscoins.fr (#3603) and also listed in Numista (#416005) as such.

There is one example of a variant legend, not listed by RIC, Pink or Alföldi: 'IMP C PROBVS AVG', minted by the 1st officina (XXIP) and with an E1 bust. According to Pink, this legend (Nr. 7) was also used by the 1st officina during the 5th emission (e.g. RIC 627). Because the obverse legend of this variant is close to the obverse legend of RIC 805, this variant was also minted by the 1st officina and RIC 805 also lists an E1 bust as the variant does, this variant is listed as a variant of RIC 805. See Numista #416003. 

According tot RIC, RIC 803, 804 and 805 were all minted by the 1st officina and RIC 804 was also minted by the 2nd and 6th officina. Pink and Alföldi, who do not list RIC 803, supports this with regard to RIC 804 and 805. With regard to the variant legend 'IMP CM AVR PROBVS P AVG', both Pink and Alföldi list the 1st and 2nd officina.

RIC mentions 5 different variations/different bust types for RIC 803, 804 and 805 (bust types according to Pierre Bastiens grouping of bust types; see illustrated: probvs.net), and there are also some variants known. RIC 805 RIC also lists a bust that does not exist: helmeted, radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand:

• RIC 803 - IMP C M AVR PROBVS PF AVG

Officina(s): -/-//XXIP

1. radiate, draped, right (A bust, Alföldi - (no example on probuscoins.fr), Numista #293159);
2. radiate, wearing imperial mantle, left, holding sceptre surmounted by eagle in right hand (H2 bust, Alföldi - (no example on probuscoins.fr), Numista #293845);
3. [var] helmeted, radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand (E1 bust, Alföldi - (example: probuscoins.fr #1458), Numista #416018);

• RIC 803var - IMP CM AVR PROBVS P AVG

Officina(s): -/-//XXIP | -/-//XXIS

1. [var] radiate, wearing imperial mantle, left, holding sceptre surmounted by eagle in right hand (H2 bust, Alföldi 091.008-009 (example: probuscoins.fr #3603), Numista #416005);

• RIC 804 - IMP C PROBVS PF AVG

Officina(s): -/-//XXIP | -/-//XXIS | -/-//XXIVI

1. radiate, cuirassed, right (B bust, Alföldi 091.005-007 (example: probuscoins.fr #4892), Numista #293160);

• RIC 805 - IMP PROBVS PF AVG

Officina(s): -/-//XXIP

1. helmeted, radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand (E1 bust, Alföldi 091.004 (no example on probuscoins.fr), Numista #293161);
2. helmeted, radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand (non existent bust, Alföldi - (no example on probuscoins.fr), not in Numista);
3. radiate, wearing imperial mantle, left, holding sceptre surmounted by eagle in right hand (H2 bust, Alföldi 091.001 (no example on probuscoins.fr), Numista #293846);
4. [var] radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand (F5 bust, Alföldi 091.003 (example: probuscoins.fr #1425), Numista #416002);
5. [var] radiate, cuirassed, right (B bust, Alföldi 091.002 (no example on probuscoins.fr), not in Numista).

• RIC 805var - IMP C PROBVS AVG

Officina(s): -/-//XXIP

1. helmeted, radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand (E1 bust, Alföldi - (no example on probuscoins.fr), Numista #416003).

Interesting fact