Post your Probus

I have a couple of his coins, nothing to write home about. He has the most amazing uniforms and I have wanted a nice crisp coin of his for ages. So I just won this, these are the sellers pics. I couldn't find an example on VCoins.

Probus,
AE antoninianus,
Serdica.
AD 277.
IMP CM AVR PROBVS AVG,
radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
PROVIDEN DEOR,
Providentia standing right, holding two standards, facing Sol standing left, holding globe and raising right hand. Star in lower centre.
Mintmark KAΔ.
RIC V-2 Serdica 845; Cohen 472.

 

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I have a couple of nice ants in my stock at the moment. Here they are, with a little write-up (hope you don't mind)...

Marcus Aurelius Probus distinguished himself in the military under emperors Valerian, Aurelian, and Tacitus. Tacitus’ death in 276 prompted Probus’ soldiers to proclaim him emperor, which the Senate ratified in 277. Probus fought a number of successful wars against Germanic tribes, but was eventually assassinated by his own troops. They may have been disgruntled at having to perform what they considered menial tasks, such as the draining of marshes and farming. Reminds me of one of my college buddies who joined the Navy and found himself stuck washing dishes for hours on end. “I joined the Navy, not a f--- diner!”

At any rate, Emperor Probus was very nice to us future ancient numismatists and assiduously struck millions and millions of coins . The CLEMENTIA TEMP(orvm) ants are some of the easiest types to collect at low prices. Jupiter was thought to protect and patronize people in positions of authority - here he is seen handing the emperor Victory, while the inscription proclaims the gentleness or pleasantness of the times. (Given the turbulence of Probus’ reign, this may have been more wishful thinking than accurate description.)

The meaning of XXI on these coins is generally understood to be a ratio: 20 parts of copper to one part of silver. Because of the silver content in the alloy, and the fact that many of these coins received a silver wash, they can present very different fabrics than that of bronze. Often the coins exhibit various shades of gold, copper, and blue. They rarely acquire hard mineral patinas as bronze does.



Probus, AD 276-282
Bl Antoninianus, 3.4g, 21mm, 12h; Antioch mint.
Obv.: IMP C M AVR PROBVS PF AVG; Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right.
Rev.: CLEMENTIA TEMP; Emperor standing right, holding scepter, receiving Victory from Jupiter; A, dot in field; XXI in exergue.
Reference: RIC Vb 922, p. 120

Here is another CLEMENTIA TEMP of Probus, but struck at the rare and somewhat mysterious mint of Tripolis. Warren Esty (Valentinian) has an informative page on this mint here.



Probus, AD 276-282
Bl Antoninianus, 3.5g, 24mm, 6h; Tripolis mint.
Obv.: IMP C M AVR PROBVS PF AVG; Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right.
Rev.: CLEMENTIA TEMP; Emperor standing right, holding scepter, receiving globe from Jupiter; star in field; XXI in exergue.
Reference: RIC Vb 927, p. 121

 

I'll overer the broad brush classification of Probus portraits as falling in three groups. Many are 'ordinary' with busts as common with most rulers but it is not at all hard to find 'military' and 'consular' portraits. The most basic Probus collection needs one of each.

 

Probus Antoninianus, Antioch

Reference.
RIC V, 2, 920.(pag. 119)

Obv. IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG,
radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.

Rev: CLEMENTIA TEMP / B•,
emperor standing right, receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter standing left, holding sceptre.
Ex. XXI.

4.52 gr
21 mm

 

I can actually participate in this thread! Please stand by for pictures.

 

Probus
A.D. 276-282
Struck in A.D. 278
AE Silvered Antoninianus
3.88 gms, 24 mm
Obv: Radiant bust in imperial mantle facing left holding eagle tipped septre. IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG
Rev: Probus on horseback raising hand, no captive at foot. XXIQ in exergue. ADVENTVS AVG.
Grade: EF, large, lustrous, & centered with original silver plate & clear legends.
Other: Siscia mint workshop #4 (Q). 5th Issue of Siscia. R.I.C. 624 Bust Type H, Alföldi type 5, n° 95, like Sear 3340. Probus strived to revive the failing Roman economy but was ultimately killed by mutinous soldiers that didn’t want to perform civilian labor. From David & Grace Barbone Sept 2013.

 

Very nice and interesting examples!!!

I'll throw in a left and right-facing Probus:

 

Probus (276-282 AD)
AE silvered Antoninianus
A: IMP CM AVR PROBVS PF AVG, radiate bust in imperial mantle l., holding eagle-tipped sceptre.
R: SOLI INVICTO / CM / XXIT, radiate Sol in spread quadriga, hand risen, holding whip.
22mm
3.8g
Cyzicus, 3rd officina
RIC Vb Cyzicus 911

 

We have seen left and right. We have seen military, consular and not. Who can show a military or consular facing right or a plain/neither facing left?

I also feel obligated to repost the coin below. Who can tell me why?

 

Nice coin, Pish.

This one makes him look droopy-shouldered...

 

I have a couple of "Probae" - not much to write home about though


Imperial Rome; Probus, r. 276-282 A.D.
Antioch Mint, AE Antoninianus, 20.92mm x 3.7 grams
Obv.: IMP CM AVR PROBVS PF AVG, radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right.
Rev.: RESTITVT ORBIS, Woman standing right, presenting wreath to Emperor standing left, holding globe and scepter


Imperial Rome
Probus, r. 276-282 A.D.
Cyzicus mint, AE Antoninianus, 22.76mm x 4.0 grams
Obv.: IMP CM AVR PROBVS PF AVG, radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right
Rev.: CONCORDIA MILITVM, Victory standing right, holding palm and presenting wreath to Emperor, standing left, holding spear. P in lower center. XXIMC in ex.

I'm starting to question my attributes for the second coin though, as I originally had MCXXI in ex., which is clearly not right. I'll need to look in on this again. The first coin I bought when young and experience, and I'm sure I paid for too much for it. The second came in an uncleaned lot

 

my latest probus ant..



Probus, AE antoninianus, 276-282 AD

O: IMP C M AVR PROBVS P AVG, Radiate, helmeted, and cuirassed bust left, holding shield and spear R: SOLI INVICTO, Sol driving spread quadriga facing; KH•Δ• in ex, Serdica Mint. RIC V 862. 24 mm, 3.3 g.

i'm not sure on @dougsmit coin...i don't know that reverse type? unless that was the point?

 

I think that may be the answer (RESTITUTOR)??? That's usually associated with Aurelian.

 

Does anyone have a QUINARIUS from Probus?

RI Probus 276-282 CE BI Quinarius 2.8g Cohen 768 O-R.jpg


I have an ANT:

RI Probus 276-282 CE Ant 21mm Riding Horse Obv-Rev.jpg

 

RIC 909 of Cyzicus RESTITVTOR EXERCITI is a perfectly ordinary Probus type. Below is a nicer one from the resource Probus.net but theirs is something very important that mine is not. I was hoping someone would spot what that something is. The style is a bit different probably due to the different officina but it is much more basic than that and is a point we all need to recognise if we are buying these things.
http://probvs.net/probvs/R909/RIC.909.AT.JPG


Wildwinds RIC 909 T, XXIMC is a closer match to mine but the seller photo is really not very good so it is hard to say what was there. Still I suspect that that coin also is the same something that mine is not.


Repeating my image for comparison:

 

That is a terrific coin Pishpash, for that era when the busts were starting to become a bit stylized Probus has an amazing expression on his face. I also like the lines on his forehead adding to the realism.

 

@dougsmit Is yours not silvered??

 

@Ancient Aussie most of his coins show frown lines, so they must have been prominent.

I am hoping that it looks as good in hand.

Everyone has amazing coins