Every now and again, provided they are cheap enough and I have some spare budget then I buy an upgrade to coins in my Probus Lugdunum collection. The coin in question is common enough and I have seen many many examples go by before upgrading. Probus Ant. Obv:– IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right Rev:– FIDES MILITVM, Fides standing left, holding two ensigns Mint – Lugdunum (III) Emission 2, Officina 3, 2nd Phase. November to December A.D. 276 Reference:– Cohen 256. Bastien 168. RIC 28 Bust type F I bought my first example almost 20 years ago. It was over cleaned then and remains over cleaned now. My upgrade is about 80% silvered, with good centering though there is a small amount of flatness in the coin on the reverse. The reverse die still shows signs of the die preparation process with the guide circle for the legend and die filing marks still visible. I was also drawn to it because Probus seems to be smiling. Martin
I just got a couple of these in a bulk lot, both fully silvered. One is just like yours down to the officina, the other is an ORIENS AVG with Sol and a captive (same officina). No photos yet, though!
