PROBUS PIVS, unusual obv. legend

Probus is known for multiple bust types and legends, many which although unusual for the era, are quite usual for Probus.
This legend is quite unusual for Probus, although understated:




PROBUS AE24mm 3.8g billon Aurelian/Antoninian (VF+, deposits)

AV: IMP C M AVR PROBVS PIVS AVG; radiate, draped, wearing trabea holding eagle-tipped scepter bust l.

REV: VIRTVS PROBI AVG; emperor galloping right, spearing kneeled enemy whose shield lies beneath horse.

EXE: KA·A·

REF: RIC V-2 880var, unlisted mintmark, rather rare, 4th emission of Serdica mint, 1st officina, 277AD.
ex. G & N Numismatik, Munich, DE.

 

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Very nice and much sought after with the full PIVS AVG instead of the P AVG.

 

I can offer no additional commentary on the obverse legend, I do love the reverses depicting the horseback emperor spearing the enemy.

 

Good detail. I would buy one like this.

 

Very nice!

 

wowzer seth => man, that's a sweet lookin' coin (very cool, congrats)

 

Don't ever think you have seen all there is to offer in Probus. Martin and Seth have some really unusual ones youdon't see every day but there are some you don't see every decade. Who has the horsehead? ....the Vota shield? ....Calliope? Not I for sure!

 

Fantastic coin Seth. I love the sharp details and the portrait type is very interesting!

 

The portrait is rather common for Probus, what's rather rare is the obverse legend. But what's even rarer than a Probus PIVS is a Florian PIVS:

 

Nice find and addition, Seth.

 

I answer to your question Doug, Nor I.

I have long abandoned any hope of chasing some of the more exotic Probus coins. A Horsehead will set you back $1,000+ with one in 2012 selling for $2,500+. A VOT shield is a mere $600+ with examples breaking $2,200 if you want grade and silvering. A Calliope will go for anywhere between $2,500 to over $8,000.

Desirable legends such as the PIVS here can go for as little as $50 are generally around $150 but can go upwards from there are more achievable. but change them to BONO, PERPETVO or DEO ET DOMINO legends and the price shoots up though there are the odd sleepers out there.

I would settle for getting what would be a normal bust at most mints (Bust Type H - Trabea and Secptre) from Lugdunum but can expect any examples I see to be $1,000+.

I will carry on trudging in the background buying coins I like, looking for something interesting hoping nobody else spots it. The problem is that there are more people out there spotting them too.

 

Thanks to the double-edged sword of coin forums .

 

I have only seen 1 Calliope ever offered while the other Grails mentioned pop up maybe once a year. All in prestigious venues and in VF+ condition, which by itself adds to the desirability and price.
This CALLIOPE AVG went from Lanz for 7000EUR: http://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=1635&category=34167&lot=1468256

 

very nice winner here

 

Sometimes it is the small details that make a coin scarcer. One of these is scarce, the other is rare. Does anybody know why or even care?

 

At first glance I think both are scarce, as the consular holding scepter bust right is considerably less seen than its left version.

 

Martin => man, I like them both ...

=> the obverse (with eagle-scepter) and the reverse (with sweet quadriga) are both total winners!!



... ummm, but I can't tell which one is the rare example (one has a couple of extra letters, PF?)

 

Both coins come from Serdica. The second coin has Gamma in exe and comes from a rare issue with Greek officina marks running alongside the scarce/rare latin marks of P, S and T is the 3rd issue.

Here is my Delta marked coin with the normal consular bust.

 

Has someone got the spread quadriga with the clouds, I don't know whether it is rare or not.