A rare Probus bust type?

I found the coin below on Ebay. I bought it, because I was intrigued by the bust variety, which I had not seen before. Left-facing busts are usually consular bust or heroic busts, or they show Probus wearing a lorica hamata or (chain mail) or a lorica squamata (scale armour).

On this coin Probus is wearing a (leather?) cuirass with paludamentum or sagum (military cloak). Perhaps I'm wrong and the bust type is not rare, but I would really like to see other examples.

Obv.: IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG
Rev.: VIRTVS-PROBI AVG
Exergue: XXI Q
Mint: Siscia, 5th officina
Year: 278

RIC 811

 

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I think that a bust left with no adjuncts is rather rare for Probus.

 

https://www.probuscoins.fr/coin?id=1461

The reverse is not the same, but the bust type is (B1). You can see other examples there.

 

Thanks a lot. The bust type B1 is quite scarce. Within this bust type B1 they don't differentiate apparently between the emperor's dress. Most of the B1 coins show the lorica hamata, while the version with cuirass and paludamentum is apparently rare within this scarcer bust type.

This is probably the best match to my coin:
https://www.probuscoins.fr/coin?id=2577




I have this, more common B1, which shows the lorica hamata.

 

There is typically no differentiation between details within the B1 type nor is there differentiation in the right facing bust.

Here are a few of the left facers from Siscia that I have obtained over the years






Here with evidence of cloak on far shoulder and Gorgeinon on chest

 

I think there should be a differentiation. The different dress elements could be noted as B1 var.1, var. 2 .... etc.

Also, in the description we usually read just "cuirassed" or "draped", but in reality the busts differentiate between different types of amour (musculata, hamata, squamata) (sometimes with baltheus) and different types of cloaks (paludamentum, chlamys).

 

Bronze coin (AE Antoninianus) with mint mark of XXIB, minted at Siscia during the reign of PROBUS in 277 A.D. Obv. IMP.C.M.AVR.PROBVS.P.F.AVG.: Radiate bust left, wearing imperial mantle and holding eagle-tipped sceptre. Rev. ADVENTVS.PROBI.AVG.: PROBUS on horseback l., raising r. hand, captive seated in front of horse, in ex. XXIB. RCS #3340 RICV #632 pg.85. DVM #8 pg.261.

(marks the arrival in Rome, 277 A.D.)

 

PROBUS

 

Very nice coin. The Adventus reverse was produced for Probus by different mints. Here is a coin from Cyzicus, which I just picked up on Ebay. It does not photograph well and looks kind of unattractive in the picture. That is, my picture is already a lot better than that of the seller, who seemed to have trouble selling the coin for EUR 69. At least it was in my watch list for quite a while. I'm really happy with the purchase.

Obv.: VIRTVS PROBI AVG
Rev.: ADVENTVS PROBI AVG
Exergue: B
Mint: Cyzicus, 2nd officina
Measurements: 4.27g, 20X23mm, 6h
Nearly full silvering and EF condition. Shield decorated with a horseman.

 

What a great dynamic reverse on the third spec.

 

True, the Sol-in-quadriga reverse is particularly attractive. Here is an exemplar from Siscia. I think Probus' coinage in general, is among the most attractive of the entire Roman empire.

 

I particularly like the ADVENTVS PROBI AVG as they can be tracked to the visit of the emperor to the city of issue.

For example at Lugdunum there are two separate issues the first comes from a short issue made to commemorate Probus travelling through Lugdunum at the start of the summer of A.D. 277 travelling with his army from Asia to battle in the Rhine.

Obv:– IMP C PROBVS • P • F • AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– ADVENTVS PROBI AVG, Emperor riding left, right hand raised, left holding sceptre; at foot, captive
Minted in Lugdunum (I in exe) Emission 4 Officina 1. Middle to End A.D. 277
Reference:– Cohen 68. Bastien 184 (10 examples cited). RIC 19 Bust type F



Minted in Lugdunum (IIII) Emission 4 Officina 4. Mid to Late A.D. 277
Reference(s) – Cohen 68. Bastien 197 (6). RIC 19 Bust Type F var (officina)

Ex barnaba6 collection. ex Philippe Gysen collection



The second issue celebrates his victorious return.

Obv:– VIRTVS PROBI AVG, Radiate, helmeted, cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield
Rev:– ADVENTVS PROBI AVG, Emperor, riding left, right hand raised, left holding sceptre; at foot, captive
Mint – Lugdunum (//III) Emission 5, Officina 3. End A. D. 277 to Early A.D. 278
Reference:– RIC 64 Bust Type G var (officina), Cohen 69, Bastien 226 (1 ex. same dies)



Minted in Lugdunum (IIII) Emission 5 Officina 4. End A.D. 277 to Early A.D. 278
References:– Cohen 69. Bastien 256 (2 examples). RIC 64 Bust Type G (S)
An obverse die match to the plate example in Bastien

 

There is another issue at Rome where he passed through Rome in A.D. 277.

Here is a small selection from this issue.

 

I do not have a left facer with no adjuncts but as a general collector not all that concerned with what is rare for Probus, I doubt I would have bought any had they been available when I was buying Probus. There must have been a group hit the market when I got these. It is a bit odd that I am very aware of rarity in my specialties of choice but really do not care when it comes to the general collection. I would very much like to have some of the rare Probus coins (the horse head comes to mind) but the appeal to me is not the rarity but the type having something special. Mine appealed to me for the shields. Plain coins, rarity not withstanding, are for specialists who want to have them all. Probus must have had quite a wardrobe judging from his coin portraits.

 

Doug,
I like all four but the fourth is a standout being of the issues from Siscia marked KA and appears to be a double die match to the example in the Phillppe Gysen collection that was sold back in 2018. The Pegasus on the shield adds to the desirability and of course the value.

 

Really great coins shown above!
I have a few ADVENTVS coins of Probus. Here is an example from Siscia.

Obv.: IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG
Rev.: ADVENTVS PROBI AVG
BUST TYPE: H2 = radiate bust left in consular robe, holding eagle-tipped sceptre (scipio)
Field / Exergue: Δ//XXI
Measurements: 4.04g / 6h / 22mm
RIC 632
Alföldi 009.12

 

That is a great historical group of coins from Lugdunum. I have these two coins of the 5th emission, which probably also celebrated Probus' successful campaign at the Rhine.

 

I wish I had more coins from the 5th Issue at Lugdunum. I have a few. Not many of them are very nice.

Here is a selection illustrating a range of bust types.

 

This bust type is not rare for Probus, but coupled with a scarcer officina from a very rare overall issue at Ticinum in 279 plus the pedigree from P. Gysen:



The very dynamic VIRTVS [AVG] series, emperor on horseback to right spearing fallen enemy in the right field -- no exergue, officina mark under the galloping horse; double die match to Vemania-Isny II 81-84; https://probuscoins.fr/coin?id=1198

 

This is a very impressive selection of rare bust types in general and especially for Lugdunum. My favorite Lugdunum Antoninian of Probus.