I was on acsearch trying to figure out a price for a Probus coin and was surprised by how ridiculous the prices have been for similar types in the past. Probus A.D. 279 Ӕ Antoninianus 22x24mm 3.8gm IMP PRO-BVS AVG; Radiate and cuirassed bust right. ROMAE AETER; Roma seated in temple holding Victory and sceptre. In ex. R crescent Γ RIC Vii Rome 185 The first coin, sold for $2,137, is the same catalogue number and the third, sold for $1601, is also. I was thinking about $125; but after seeing these prices I figure at least $1200.
Even more the first time they sold it! EUR 3,250 at Auction 72, No. 741 [ACSearch]. (Do I have that right?! I'm going by their printed PRL, since I'm not subscribed to ACSearch now.) But here's one that hammered in 2021 for 65 EUR. (On ACSearch.) Different dies from the pair (same?) in yours/NAC's, but don't see anything substantively different about it. NAC called it "apparently unrecorded," which even if true, doesn't seem like that big a deal for Probus except when it's one of the super interesting busts or reverses. What's going on here?! It's not just once, but at least a few times the price has gone astronomical. Not understanding this situation, I would consign it and hope it sold on four-figure-hammer day rather than a two-figure-hammer-day! Just realized...need to check if I have one....see ya!...
I just had someone point out what I paid no attention to-- the weight of the coin is 8.45 grams and in one listing is even called a "Double Antoninianus"
So many varieties of this coin, I must have been lucky as picked up my one with Medusa on breast plate in 2017 for 38 Euro from a Savoca blue auction. Probus AD 276-282. Rome Antoninianus Æ silvered IMP PROBVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right, with Medusa on breastplate / ROMAE AETER, hexastyle temple within which statue of Roma holding Victory or Palladium and sceptre, in exergue, R crescent Γ. Probus AD 276-282. Rome Antoninianus Æ silvered 23mm., 4,96g. good very fine RIC 185; C. 530; Venèra 1401-1418.
Entirely the weight is driving that price. Sometimes those large weight Probus Antoniniani come to auction. Not as one of the large bronze denominations that exist, but the coin using the antoniniani dies as observed by the exergue. It would be complicated calling that a double antoninianus, since there are true double antoniniani that exist for the adjacent emperors of Tacitus and Carus that exist bearing an increased silver percentage meanwhile this Probus is just two antoniniani worth of weight using regular antoninianus dies and exergue. But that is just my opinion on that. I think the more fun coin to have is the Probus Antoninianus struck with the As/Sestertius reverse die.
Yes, looking in ACSearch, now I see several of them (various different reverses, but mostly normal types besides size of flan). Sometimes the double-Ant. label is even used in the 6g range, but clearly the >8g ones get people more excited. Here's a pretty beat up Probus with otherwise common types that hammered at 480 GBP in 2022 (around $700 USD after fees): ROMA E-103 1168 (24 NOV 2022): Probus BI Piedfort or Antoninianus Trial Strike(?). Cyzicus, AD 276-282. IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG, radiate bust to left, wearing Imperial mantle and holding sceptre surmounted by eagle / SOLI INVICTO, Sol in spread quadriga facing, head to left, holding whip and reins, and raising right hand; CM below, XXIS in exergue. RIC V.2 911. 8.46g, 27mm, 6h. ...Extremely Rare. ... Struck on an unusually large and heavy planchet of almost double the normal weight, this coin might have been intended as a presentation piece, or more likely was a trial strike from new dies. That one's weight (8.46g) is effectively identical to original NAC specimen above (~8.45). (Here's a 7.49 similar that last type.) I wonder if this could be normal statistical variation. There are tons of Probus Ants and they have a lot of variability in weight, so you'd expect a few to be extra heavy by random variation. Though maybe not double. I'd love to see a proper frequency distribution. (Or if once in a while there was some kind of overstrike?) (Reminds me of Doug Smith's 9.5g Constantius II Fallen Horseman. I've got a 7.7g specimen and have seen a couple heavier, up to 8.1g -- also the max. found by RIC in museum collections. Or, occasionally, I'll see a 6.2-6.3g Philip I AR Antoninianus, almost 50% overweight on silver, like a 1.5X Ant.) Either way, somebody got a bargain on this 7.8g jumbo Probus. Another, similar one at 7.70g.
