Antoninianus - Probus Helmeted, radiate, cuirassed, left, spear and shield, from behind; FIDES MILIT; Fides
| Silver | 3.5 g | 23 mm |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Probus (Marcus Aurelius Probus) (276-282) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 277-278 |
| Value | Antoninianus (1) |
| Currency | Antoninianus, Reform of Caracalla (AD 215 – 301) |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 3.5 g |
| Diameter | 23 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#413544 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Fides, draped, standing left, holding ensign in each hand.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
FIDES MILIT
In exergue: mark of the 6th officina (VI), followed by value mark (XX) and mint mark for Ticinum (T)
Unabridged legend: Fides Militum.
Translation: Loyalty of the soldiers.
Comment
RIC 366 was minted by the 6th officina (exergue-/officina mark: VIXXT) of the Ticinum mint (VIXXT). 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 different variations/different bust types (bust types according to Pierre Bastiens grouping of bust types; see illustrated: probvs.net), and there are also multiple variants known:
- Helmeted, radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand (E1 bust, example probuscoins #987, Numista #292714);
- Helmeted, radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand, from behind (E2 bust, example probuscoins #2603, Numista #413544);
- Radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand (F1 bust, example probuscoins #4232, Numista #293485);
- [var] Radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand, from behind (F8 bust, example probuscoins #1160, Numista #413545);
- [var] Radiate, heroically nude, left, holding spear in right hand and square shield (Aegis) in left hand, from behind (F19 bust, example probuscoins #3741, Numista #413546);
- [var] Helmeted, radiate, heroically nude, left, holding spear in right hand and square shield (Aegis) in left hand, from behind (E8 bust, example probuscoins #1706, not in Numista);
- [var] Radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand (F5 bust, example probuscoins #342, not in Numista).
According to Pink, RIC 366 - with its obverse lettering nr. 4 ('VIRTVS PROBI AVG') combined with 'FIDES MILIT' - is part of the 3rd emission (the year 277) and 4th emission (278) (Karl Pink, Der Aufbau der römischen Münzprägung in der Kaiserzeit VI/I, Wien, 1949, p. 61-63).
About the F19 and E8 variants
The only difference between the F19 and E8 bust is that the E8 bust is helmeted. The F19 and E8 bust are not in RIC at all. RIC sometimes mentions a 'square shield' (for example: RIC 388) or even an 'aegis' (for example: RIC 296), however it always mentions Probus 'cuirassed' while the F19 and E8 bust are '(heroically) nude'.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about this coin is that it features the image of the Roman goddess Fides (Fidelity) on the reverse, which was a common motif on coins during the reign of Probus. Fides was a personification of loyalty and fidelity, and her image was often used to symbolize the loyalty of the Roman people to their emperors. The use of Fides on this coin may suggest that Probus was trying to promote loyalty and fidelity among his subjects, or that he wanted to emphasize the importance of these values in Roman society.
