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

Reverse

Soldier, helmeted, in military attire, standing left, resting right hand on shield and holding spear in left hand.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
VIRTVS AVG
In exergue R for Rome, followed by officina mark

Unabridged legend: Virtus Augusti.

Translation: Courage of the emperor.

Comment

The original RIC lists RIC 238 as minted by the 2nd (R✶B) and 5th (R✶Є) officina and mentions 1 bust type (bust types according to Pierre Bastiens grouping of bust types; see illustrated: probvs.net). There are two know variants:

1. Radiate, wearing imperial mantle, left, holding sceptre surmounted by eagle in right hand (bust H2, Guillemain (*) #317 (R✶Є), example: probuscoins #204, Numista #294753);
2. [var] Radiate, cuirassed, right (bust B, Guillemain #321 (R✶Є), example: probuscoins #3621 (R✶Є), not in Numista);
3. [var] Radiate, wearing imperial mantle, left, holding sceptre surmounted by eagle in right hand - VIRTVS AVG in stead of VIRTVS AVGVSTI - (bust H2, Guillemain #316 (R✶Є), example: probuscoins #3156 (R✶Є) and #2743 (R✶B), this coin).

(*) Jean Guillemain, La Monetazione di Probo a Roma (276-282), Ripostiglio della Venèra-Nuovo Catalogo Illustrato Vol III/1, 2009).

The variants with the B bust and the H2 bust with the reverse legend 'VIRTVS AVG' are variants of RIC 238 because it is the only coin of the Rome mint with the obverse legend 'IMP PROBVS AVG' and on the reverse a soldier standing left with shield and spear.

According to both Guillemain and Pink, RIC 238 is part of the 3rd emission (exergue/officina mark style: -/-//R✶Є; year 278). See Guillemain 2009 and Karl Pink, Der Aufbau der römischen Münzprägung in der Kaiserzeit VI/I, Wien, 1949, p. 41. An example with the exergue/mint mark RЄ is also known: probuscoins #4022, which is the exergue/officina mark style: of the 2nd emission (year 277).

Interesting fact