Antoninianus - Probus VIRTVS AVGVSTI; Mars
| Silver | - | - |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Probus (Marcus Aurelius Probus) (276-282) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 276-282 |
| Value | Antoninianus (1) |
| Currency | Antoninianus, Reform of Caracalla (AD 215 – 301) |
| Composition | Silver |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#293416 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Mars, helmeted, in military attire, walking right, holding spear in right hand and trophy in left hand.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
VIRTVS AVGVSTI
-/-//RA
Translation:
Virtus Augusti.
Courage of the emperor.
Comment
Source:Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)
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 deity on the other. In this case, the coin features a portrait of Probus on one side and Mars, the Roman god of war, on the other. This innovation in coinage design was a significant departure from previous Roman coins, which had typically featured images of gods and goddesses or other symbols on both sides. The introduction of the emperor's portrait on coins marked a shift in the way the Roman Empire presented itself and its leaders to the public, and it paved the way for the development of more personalized and propaganda-focused coinage in the centuries that followed.
