Just another Probus or something interesting?

I have had this coin in my collection for quite a few years. I already know the answer to the question but thought I would throw it out there to the board to see other thoughts.

I won't provide any attribution information at the moment.



Have fun.
Martin

 

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Has the higher silver content cause of the XI. Thats my guess.

 

Hmmm, is there actually only one "X" or is the other merely missing because of a gummed-up die-clog?

... ummm, I'm guessing that it's the symbol (III or IV?) that is stamped in between Concordia and Probus?

NOTE: regardless, I am going to edit my answer to be correct (so bring it!!)

 

It has to have something to do with the "XI". I can't seem to find it in my references.

 

I think the missing X has to do with a weak strike. That whole corner around 7 o'clock is weak. What's more interesting to me is the officina mark. Is it III? Or an early use of IV instead of IIII? I believe this is a Siscia mint coin, RIC 5(b) 651, p. 87. There are a lot of interesting officina marks in the early Probus ants. It seems the mints were undergoing a transition from Roman numerals and abbreviations to Greek, and one finds examples of differing styles, sometimes jumbled together. For example RIC records one series of Siscia officina marks for 651 as P(rima) to VI, and another series combines Roman numerals with Greek symbols. And this occurs in the other mints as well, Ticinium, Lugdunum, etc.

 

Is the IV in the correct spot?

 

It's in the right place. On the Emperor/Concordia types it's in the middle of the field. On other types, you find marks split between the right and left fields.

 

The coin has XXI in exe, just a weak strike and clogging.

The IV is the right area. What is it about the IV that is of interest?

 

Ummm, besides the fact that it's not quite horizontal?

... and the "I" looks like it's actually the slanted-side on the "V" ...

... and, and , and ...

 

Quite beside that Steve....... and.....

 

Knowing nothing of these, the most logical explanation for me would be that there should not be a number at all but a letter ?

 

Ok. Here goes.

Whilst we accept IV as meaning 4 it was not used as an officina mark. P, S, T, Q, V, VI, VII etc. or I, II, III, IIII. IV here is an engraving error and the coin was produced in officina VI and the engraver, working in reverse got his numerals the wrong way round and engraved VI in the die leading to IV on the coin. IV coins exist but are very much the exception and are engraving errors.

Martin

 

Martin, you think you're so smart sometimes (Bing told me that sometimes you make-up stories)

... hey, I'm merely repeating what Bing said (he's like that lately) ...

just jokes

=> Bing actually said "man, that's almost as interesting as some of stevex6's tales about goats"



again, I think Bing was merely joking (you rock, Martin ... bravo)

 

Probus
Obv:– IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev:– CONCORD MILIT, Emperor standing right, clasping hand of Concordia.
Minted in Siscia (IV/XXI in exe) Emission 7 Officina 6. A.D. 280
Reference:– Alfoldi type 26, unlisted. RIC 651 Bust type C var. This error (IV instead of VI is not listed in RIC or Alfoldi)

As far as I can tell Alfoldi only found two other coins with IV for VI in his studies of Probus coins at Siscia. A RIC 650 var, IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield, Alfoldi Table XIII, Type 26, #143 and a RIC 713, PAX AVGVSTI, IMP PROBVS P F AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust left, holding spear, Alfoldi Table XXII, Type 42, #54.

So is the coin valuable? Probably not. It depends how much people wouldbe willing to part with for it. Despite the condition I don't think I overpayed back in 2006 when I paid $11 incl. shipping from the States to the UK. It was described as officina 4 by the seller.

Keep your eyes open folks....

Martin

 

Thanks for the fun challenge, Martin ... I'll give $20 for it!! (almost doubling your initial purchase-price => Bing said that you'd be a fool not to jump at it)

... man, apparently that never gets old, eh?

 

Tattletale!!

 

Aye aye, captain. It can be my new holy grail.

 

Bing said that JA is a real brown-noser ....

So, I said "Hey Bing, that's pretty harsh"

... but Bing merely snickered, tossed-back another rye and gave me one of the weirdest winks I've ever seen (yah, maybe he's had enough?)

 

That Bing is starting to piss me off.

 

hic*