© 2023 PrimeME
© 2023 PrimeME
Antoninianus - Probus SECVRIT PERP; Securitas
280 year| Silver | 3.43 g | 22.92 mm |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Probus (Marcus Aurelius Probus) (276-282) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Year | 280 |
| Value | Antoninianus (1) |
| Currency | Antoninianus, Reform of Caracalla (AD 215 – 301) |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 3.43 g |
| Diameter | 22.92 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#373352 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 97% |
Reverse
Securitas, draped, standing left, legs crossed, leaning on column, raising right hand to head. T in left field.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
SECVRIT PERP
T
VIXXI
Translation:
Securitas Perpetua.
To perpetual security.
Comment
This coin is minted by the 6th officina of Ticinum (exergue mark VIXXI). It is part of the AEQVIT series of Ticinum (Karl Pink, Der Aufbau der römischen Münzprägung in der Kaiserzeit VI/I, Wien, 1949), in which the 6th officinae represents the letter T in the left field. According to Pink, the AEQVIT series is part of the 7th emission of Ticinum, of the year 280, contrary to the EQVITI series, which is part of the 8th (280), 9th (281) and 10th (282) emission of Ticinum. In the EQVITI series, the 6th officina represents the letter I in the left field. See on these coded series: Gert Boersema, The Translation of the Codewords AEQVITI, IOBI and HPKOY, Forumancientcoins.com, 2007.An other example of this coin type can be found on: Probuscoins.fr
Why list this coin as a variant of RIC 476?
On this coin bust type B of Probus is displayed on the obverse side: Probus, radiate, cuirassed, right (Bust type according to Pierre Bastiens grouping of bust types). RIC 476 does not list bust type B of Probus and and the obverse legend according to RIC is IMP C PROBVS P F AVG, not IMP C PROBVS AVG.
The corresponding obverse and reverse legend and bust type B for Ticinum are present in RIC: (1) , with field-/exergue marks (I/-//VIXXI), part of the EQVITI series of Ticinum and therefore the wrong emission (9) and wrong year (281). See for an example: Probuscoins.fr; (2) , with the greek letter ς as part of the field-/exergue mark for the 6th officina, and therefore part of the wrong emission (6) and the wrong year (279). See for an example: .
So RIC 476 is the most corresponding RIC-reference because of the correct emission (7) - and therefore correct year (280) -, the correct field-/exergue marks (T/-//VIXXI) and correct reverse legend.
Interesting fact
The Antoninianus coin, which was issued during the reign of Probus (276-282 AD), was the first Roman coin to feature a portrait of the emperor on one side and a personification of the Roman state (in this case, Securitas) on the other. This innovation marked a significant departure from previous Roman coins, which had typically featured images of gods, goddesses, or other mythological figures. The introduction of the emperor's portrait on coins helped to solidify the idea of the emperor as a divine authority and paved the way for the development of the imperial cult.
