The auction today went on for hours and the bidding was spirited for quite a few of the offerings. Some of the rarities went for a large amount of money. I bid on several and won one. I had the chance for several others but there are several other auctions this month I am interested in. Here is my new Probus acquisition. I believe this is only my third 3rd century coin. Please share your wins from this auction. Probus, 276-282. Mint Ticinum. Antoninianus, 2nd em. 276. 3.23 G Obv: Imp C m AVR PROBVS p avg. Drap. Tank bust with STKR. In back view on the right. RV/IOVI conse – Rev: RVAT/VXXT. Emperor N. Standing right and receiving a globe from Jupiter, who stands on the left with Sceptre N. C-. Ric 390. Acquired in October 2003 From the Phillipe Gysen Collection Paul-Francis Jacquier Auction 45 Lot 1395 September 14, 2018
I have to ask: Of all the coins in the sale, what made you choose this particular Probus? I have several Probus coins but none like this. It is a good example of the Ticinum (only) use of XX rather than XXI. I do have a coin that used dies a bit like those of the Caesar_Augustus coin but mine was struck twice. On the obverse see the extra face looking up in the head of the main strike. From style, I doubt the two are the same mint but have not researched this hunch.
@dougsmit , There were 3 factors: I wanted a Probus from the Ticinum mint (I think they are interesting). I really liked the long-necked portrait, and I liked the image on the reverse. Thanks for the question and your interest.
Ticinum does have the series I consider most interesting. On these the six officina codes are mirrored by the letters of the code word EQVITI added in the field. There are similar coins from Rome but Ticinum are easier to find and better looking. E shop Prima P Q shop Secunda S V shop Tertia T I shop quarta Q T shop V 5 I shop VI 6 I have a page: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/equiti.html
A great page Doug. I was very interested when you mentioned that the Aeqviti legend was truncated in different issues. One of the things I noticed about my coin is that the obverse legend Iovi Conservator is truncated to Iovi Conservat.
I really wanted to get a Probus from that auction but have been very busy and suspected they would hammer out of my comfort zone. Congrats on the great pickup @Orfew Back to searching for EQVITI coins for me.
All this talk about Probus coins has gotten me really interested in them. I will do some reading on Probus and see if I can get my first Probus. The Rome mint issues remind me of the Constantine Sol coins from Rome.
With such a collection being offered it is often the case that some incredibly interesting coins get looked over and end up selling for way less than they would have in another auction setting and a more balanced offer. In the case of the Gysen collection I was surprised that a very rare spec of a very rare and usually sought after series sold for just 30EUR: Maybe it's the picture which shows a rather worn and pitted coin or it was just the overwhelming quantity of special coins being offered at the same time that made this little diamond in the rough fall between the cracks.
The coin is ugly. The reverse is not particularly interesting. There are thousands (of Probus varieties. Many varieties are quite beautiful, or a least interesting for elaborate helmets, shields, reverses, etc. Many of us already have an attractive Probus (or ten). Is it really a diamond in the rough? If so, why?
It's a very rare example of the sixth emission at Ticinum dated late 279, from a rather rare series presenting the emperor on horseback riding over enemy captive, no exergual line, mintmark and denomination being usually shown underneath the prancing horse. A rather dynamic design. This sixth emission has no other markings but the officina and RIC does not list this type for neither emission, officina or bust type. A singular example is shown on Probvs.net Ticinum RIC 446 with a few others being recovered from the Vemania-Isny hoard (Vemania-Isny II 81-84), which I cannot add as I do not have the reference. A rare coin by all intents and purposes from a rare series. Not sure if you can find one like it or similar (even with both value mark and mintmark) from this series in any condition for anywhere near the price this ugly coin sold for. Probvs.net coin: Jacquier auction coin: I'm not sure if double die-match or reverse die match -- the Vemania-Isny coins are reported to be all of them from the same dies.
Got today in the mail my first and only EQVITI Series II Antoninianus bought from the Forum of Ancient Coins and similar to one of the coins posted by dougsmit: 22.9 mm; 3.366 g, 180 o; Gallia Transpadana, Ticinum 281 AD, mintmark Q - SXXI, emission 9, 2nd officina Ref.: RIC V-2 492(R); Cohen VI, 488 (also with helmet); Pink VI-1, p.67/9; Obverse: VIRTVS PROBI INVICTI AVG Radiate, helmeted and cuirassed bust left, spear in right hand over right shoulder, shield on left arm Reverse: PROVIDENT AVG Providentia, draped, standing left holding globe in right hand, long traverse scepter in left hand, Q in left field, in exergue SXXI Picture from the Forum:
If you will permit me:- While talking things 'Probus', can anyone please tell me the mint of this coin?
Topcat7, it seems to be Lugdunum RIC 112 you can find it here: https://probvs.net/probvs/rev-reverses.html OBV.: IMP C PROBVS P F AVG Radiate, cuirassed bust right. REV.: VIRTVS AVG Soldier standing left, holding Victory and spear, left hand on shield. Mintmark: // IIII
@dougsmit to my uneducated eye I particularly love your I shop VI 6 example. It is very obviously a wonderfully struck coin and one of the best I have seen. Really nice - thank you for posting that collection of great coins. *I regularly visit and appreciate your excellent website.