Antoninianus - Probus (Imperial mantle, left, sceptre surmounted by eagle; CONSERVAT AVG; Sol) (277-280) front Antoninianus - Probus (Imperial mantle, left, sceptre surmounted by eagle; CONSERVAT AVG; Sol) (277-280) back
Antoninianus - Probus (Imperial mantle, left, sceptre surmounted by eagle; CONSERVAT AVG; Sol) (277-280) photo
© American Numismatic Society (ANS)

Antoninianus - Probus Imperial mantle, left, sceptre surmounted by eagle; CONSERVAT AVG; Sol

 
Silver 3.1 g 22 mm
Description
Issuer
Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD)
Emperor
Probus (Marcus Aurelius Probus) (276-282)
Type
Standard circulation coin
Years
277-280
Value
Antoninianus (1)
Currency
Antoninianus, Reform of Caracalla (AD 215 – 301)
Composition
Silver
Weight
3.1 g
Diameter
22 mm
Shape
Round (irregular)
Technique
Hammered
Orientation
Variable alignment ↺
Demonetized
Yes
Updated
2024-10-05
References
Numista
N#293690
Rarity index
100%

Reverse

Sol, radiate, standing left, raising right hand and holding globe in left hand.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
CONSERVAT AVG
In exergue XXI followed by officina mark or in exergue XXI and officina mark in right field

Unabridged legend: Conservatori Augusti.

Translation: Protector of the emperor.

Comment

RIC 670 was minted by the first to the sixth officina of the Siscia mint. The original RIC text mentions 4 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:

  1. helmeted, radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand (bust E1, Alföldi 027.073-083 (*) (example: probuscoins #5037), Numista #293026);
  2. wearing imperial mantle, left, holding sceptre surmounted by eagle in right hand (bust H2, Alföldi 027.056-064 (example: probuscoins #4502), Numista #293690);
  3. radiate, cuirassed, left with spear (bust F5, Alföldi 027.065 (example: probuscoins #1460), Numista #293691);
  4. radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand (bust F1, Alföldi 027.067-072 (example: probuscoins #1695), Numista #293692);
  5. [var] Radiate, cuirassed or draped, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand, from behind (bust F8, Alföldi 027.086-088 (example: probuscoins #1694), Numista #411343);
  6. [var] helmeted, radiate, cuirassed, right, holding spear (bust D1, Alföldi 027.084-085 (example: probuscoins #4009), not in Numista);
  7. [var] radiate, draped, right (bust A, Alföldi - (example: probuscoins #4905), not in Numista);
  8. [var] radiate, cuirassed, left (bust B1, Alföldi - (example: probuscoins #4543), not in Numista);
  9. [var] radiate, cuirassed, right, holding spear (bust F9, Alföldi 027.066 (example: probuscoins -), not in Numista);

(*) 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 670, with its obverse legend nr. 3 ('IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG'), is part of the 5th (exergue-/mint mark style: -/-//XXIP) and 7th (-/P//XXI) emission, which was in the year 277 and 280 (Karl Pink, Der Aufbau der römischen Münzprägung in der Kaiserzeit VI/I, Wien, 1949, p. 51, 53).

Interesting fact

One interesting fact about this coin is that it features an image of the Roman emperor Probus wearing an imperial mantle and holding a sceptre surmounted by an eagle, symbolizing his power and authority as the ruler of the Roman Empire.