Probus Lucky Find

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Johnnie Black, Feb 28, 2019.

  1. Johnnie Black

    Johnnie Black Neither Gentleman Nor Scholar

    A few weeks ago I attended the local coin show that has one ancients dealer. He’s worth the 1.5 hour round trip though. He always has a new arrivals box that hasn’t been fully attributed yet. They often contain the previous owners tags and a “no haggle” price. Saves him time by selling before researching completely.

    I’ve found a fondness for Probus over the last year because of all the types and their affordable availability in nice grades. That day I found a Probus that I knew wasn’t common but the grade almost prevented the purchase. It had no tag detail but for a very small amount I grabbed it anyway. Only tonight have I finally researched it completely.

    A9225EBA-11BE-45F2-98FF-4C325571D4FA.jpeg
    Probus 276-282
    AE Antoninianus
    21mm 3.43g
    Siscia Mint 277
    OBV: IMP C PROBVS P F AVG
    Radiate, cuirassed bust left.
    REV:ORIGINI AVG
    She wolf right, feeding Romulus and Remus.
    Mintmark: // XXIT
    RIC 703 variant R3 (unlisted bust type)

    According to Probuscoins.fr the right facing bust is scarce to R1 and the left facing types are R2 or R3. I don’t typically collect for rarity, and the obverse has pretty worn dies, but I’m glad I didn’t pass on it. Looking at ACsearch I cant find a sale in this bust type so it’s unlikely I would have ever seen one again.

    Please share your Probus or lucky find coins!
     
    Andres2, Paul M., Pavlos and 24 others like this.
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 Well-Known Member

    Very nice find! I love searching through boxes of unsorted ancients.

    I'm focusing on Flavians and Southern Italy but I'll probably always keep these two. Both coins listed on Probuscoins.fr

    normal_ProbusHorseman.jpg
    IMP CM AVR PROBVS P AVG
    Radiate and cuirassed bust of Probus right

    VIRTVS PROBI AVG - KAΓ in exergue
    Emperor on horseback trampling enemy, a shield in left hand, spear in right. A shield on the ground under the horse.

    Bust type B

    Serdica mint, 280-281 AD
    4th emission, 3rd officina

    3.92g

    RIC 880 (C).

    EF with wonderful smooth dark brown/black glossy patina. Even nicer in hand.

    Ex-Calgary Coin; Ex-George W. La Borde collection

    Published on Probuscoins.fr

    normal_Probus.jpg

    IMP C M AVR PROBVS P AVG
    Radiate, mantled bust left holding eagle tipped scepter

    SOL INVICTO
    Sol in spread Quadriga holding whip KAΓ in ex

    Serdica 277 AD
    RIC 864 Bust type H
    3.84g
    Scarce

    Published on Probuscoins.fr
     
    Paul M., Andres2, gogili1977 and 21 others like this.
  4. Theodosius

    Theodosius Fine Style Seeker

    Nice score! I like the reverse type a lot.

    John
     
    Johnnie Black likes this.
  5. Ocatarinetabellatchitchix

    Ocatarinetabellatchitchix Well-Known Member

    I also have a Probus that surprised me. Got it in an auction and was misattribuated. I had problems researching it because I was not able to find an exact match.Finally Probuscoins informed me that my coin is only the second known example ! Not too bad for 10$ !
    C0D8AE57-C1A6-485A-A21D-C269F882EEBA.jpeg

    IMP C PROBVS P AVG
    PRO-VIDEND-EOR
    Serdica 2ndemission
    22 mm. 3.6 g 6 h
     
    Paul M., gogili1977, paschka and 13 others like this.
  6. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 Well-Known Member

    Love it when that happens!
     
  7. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Here's a couple of left-facing Probus portraits:

    Probus ROMAE AETER Antoninianus.jpg
    Probus, AD 276-282.
    Roman billon antoninianus, 3.78 g, 20.1 mm, 11 h.
    Rome, AD 277-280.
    Obv: IMP PROBVS P F AVG, radiate bust right in consular robe, eagle tipped scepter in right hand.
    Rev: ROMAE AETER, temple, statue of Roma seated facing inside; in exergue, R * A.
    Refs: RIC 183; Cohen 533; RCV 12027 var.

    Probus SALVS Antoninianus.jpg
    Probus, AD 276-282.
    Roman billon Antoninianus, 3.25 g, 21.7 mm.
    Ticinium mint, AD 280-82.
    Obv: VIRTVS PROBI AVG, Radiate, helmeted, cuirassed bust, left, holding spear and shield.
    Rev: SALVS AVG, Salus standing right, feeding serpent held in arms. V in left field; * in right field, TXXI in exergue.
    Refs: RIC-500; Cohen 584.
     
  8. octavius

    octavius Well-Known Member

    Adventus Probus antoninianus. J8c9qR82Y43j6aSYC2ez3kHJGP5tX7.jpg
     
    Jwt708, Paul M., Andres2 and 14 others like this.
  9. octavius

    octavius Well-Known Member

    and another... 1433LG.jpg
     
    Jwt708, Paul M., Andres2 and 15 others like this.
  10. chrsmat71

    chrsmat71 I LIKE TURTLES!

    That's a cool coin show find @Johnnie Black ! I have to make about the same drive to go to some of the small coins shows in my area, but I don't have an ancients dealer unfortunately.

    Here's is one of my favorite lefty Probus coins.


    [​IMG]
     
    Jwt708, Paul M., Andres2 and 10 others like this.
  11. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

  12. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    And here's my only Probus. (temple type of course) 217020 (3).jpg
     
    Jwt708, Paul M., Andres2 and 12 others like this.
  13. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    I have 2 coins of Probus. Here is my favourite. It is the only one known so far and is from the collection of P Gysen.

    PROBUS, 276-282. Münzstätte Cyzicus. Ein 2. Exemplar, jedoch CLEMENTIA TEMP/Q/XXI. 3,82 g.
    Das einzige, bekannte Exemplar. Schön
    Erworben im Dezember 2016.
    From: The Phillipe Gysen Collection
    Ex: Paul Francis Jacquier Auction #45 September 14, 2018

    Probus unique.jpg
     
  14. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    What a marvellous coin! I love the interesting reverse legend.

    Here's a range of Probus (Ticinum, Lugdunum, Rome, Siscia and uncertain eastern mint linked to the revolt of Saturninus):
    Screen Shot 2019-02-28 at 9.51.47 PM.jpg
    Screen Shot 2019-02-28 at 9.56.17 PM.jpg

    The first lucky find that came to mind is this fourrée of Gallienus:
    Screen Shot 2019-02-28 at 9.59.16 PM.jpg
    It came in a group lot and nearly went into the junk bowl, but at the prompting of zumbly and with the help of Warren Esty, I came to realize it wasn't a damaged ant., but (as far as anybody here knows) the latest extant 3rd century fourrée, dating to no earlier than 256.
     
    Jwt708, Valentinian, Paul M. and 13 others like this.
  15. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    Very nice Probus and puppy, Johnnie!

    I got extremely lucky on this Alexandrian Probus I got last month... I just stare at it... the facial hair, the laureate, his eye. Also what gets me is the fields on the reverse... they are soooo flat!
    [​IMG]
    Probus, Ruled 276-282 AD
    AE20 Tetradrachm, Alexandria, Egypt
    Struck Year 4, 278-279 AD
    Obverse
    : A K M AVP ΠPOBOC CЄB, Laureate and cuirassed bust right.
    Reverse: Eirene holding olive branch and sceptre, LΔ to right (RY 4 = 278/279 AD)
    References: Emmett 3986.4, R1
    Size: 20.2mm, 7.9g
    Ex: The Reverend Willis McGill Collection (McGill was an American missionary stationed in Egypt, who started collecting there during World War I)
     
  16. gogili1977

    gogili1977 Well-Known Member

  17. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    I agree, that is a cool fourree. It must have been made about the time that the real coins dipped below the silver content required to make a fourree so why bother? I have not seen one that late but there are several of Trajan Decius.
     
  18. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    Thanks, Doug. Warren has a page of late fourrées that I'm sure you already know about, but just in case there's another person interested besides us three, here it is: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/imit/imitTD.html

    I'm glad so few are interested, because that allowed me to be the only bidder on the recent Triton A.K. collection lot made almost entirely of unofficial 3rd century coins. There were a Decius and two T-bones included. @Valentinian will be interested to see this coin in particular:
    Screen Shot 2019-03-01 at 11.06.12 PM.jpg
    The obverse is a die match to one of his T-bone fourrées on the above page, while the reverse is a die match to one of his Decius (which he notes is also die-matched to a Prieur coin). I think this speaks to the scarcity of these things. (These die-matched coins look so unofficial I don't see how they could fool anyone, though; they were likely used near to or outside the borders of the Empire.)
     
    Johndakerftw, Johnnie Black and Bing like this.
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page