One of my collecting themes (passions) is the coinage of Probus from Lugdunum. I seldom get to add coins to this theme now as there seems to be sufficient demand for many of them to drive them beyond my limited budget. As such I tend to only add problem coins where others have passed them by. WHen I post them here is tend to add some context behind my purchase as it helps me justify to myself why I bought the coin. So here goes my explanation and justification for my lastest addition. The obverse legend "IMP PROBVS AVG" (with variation "IMP • PROBVS AVG") only turns up relatively late in the issues of Probus from Lugdunum. It seems to appear only in the issues that Bastien attributes and Issues 8(Autumn to End A.D. 281) and 9 (January to August A.D. 282). In these issues it also occurs less frequently than other obverse legends for the same type. Looking the the relative nunber of examples given by Bastien for example there might be 5 examples of "IMP PROBVS AVG" compared with between 20 and 35 examples of "IMP C PROBVS P F AVG" with a given reverse type. The "IMP PROBVS AVG" legend is used by all four workshops/officina. Whenever an "IMP PROBVS AVG" exmaple from Lugdunum turns up it tends to attract my attention. Here are some examples of this legend from my collection from each workshop for Issue 8. Obv:– IMP PROBVS AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right Rev:– COMES AVG, Minerva standing left, holding olive-branch and spear and resting left hand on shield Mint – Lugdunum (I in exe) Emission 8, Officina 1. Autumn – End 281 A.D. Reference:– Cohen 103, Bastien 344 (4 examples cited). RIC 67 Bust type F Obv:– IMP • PROBVS AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right Rev:– COMES AVG, Minerva standing left, holding olive-branch and spear and resting left hand on shield Mint – Lugdunum (I in exe) Emission 8, Officina 1. Autumn – End 281 A.D. Reference:– Cohen 103, Bastien 343 (6 examples cited). RIC 67 Bust type F Obv:– IMP PROBVS AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right Rev:– TEMPOR FELICIT, Felicitas standing right, holding caduceus and cornucopiae Minted in Lugdunum (II in exe) Emission 8 Officina 2. Autumn to Late A.D. 281 Reference:– Cohen 726. Bastien 353 (6 examples). RIC 109 Bust Type F Obv:– IMP PROBVS AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right Rev:– PIAETAS AVG, Pietas standing left by altar, holding patera and box of perfumes Mint – Lugdunum (III in exe) Emission 8, Officina 3. Autumn – End 281 A.D. Reference:– Cohen 436, Bastien 356 (5 examples cited). RIC 94 Bust type F (Scarce) Obv:– IMP • PROBVS AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right Rev:– PAX AVG, Pax standing left, holding olive-branch and sceptre Minted in Lugdunum (IIII in exe) Emission 8 Officina 4. Autumn to Late A.D. 281 Reference:– Cohen 398. Bastien 368 (5 examples cited). RIC - Bust type F (Not listed with this obverse legend in RIC) Up until now I had not been able to find any examples from Issue 9. It is listed in Bastien with for Workshop A - "COMES AVG - Minerva", Workshop B - "TEMPOR FELICIT, Felicitas" and Workshop C - "PIAETAS AVG - Pietas". It is not noted in Bastien for Workshop D for any of the reverse types produced by this workshop for this issue. This leads my to my newest addition. This isn't noted in Bastien but there is a single example noted in the seconf Supplement. It has been harshly cleaned but I could afford it! Obv:– IMP • PROBVS AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right Rev:– PAX AVG, Pax standing left, holding olive-branch and sceptre Minted in Lugdunum (D | _) Emission 9 Officina 4. January – August A.D. 282 Reference(s) – Cohen -. Bastien - (not listed with this obverse legend). Bastien Supplement II 426a (1 Treasure de Colonne I, 823). RIC - Bust type F (not listed with this obverse legend would be after RIC 119) Regards, Martin
Nice addition and set overall. Definitely is hard for me to understand all these workshops/numbers. How many collectors do it is beyond me.
I'm with Mat nice & it is hard to remember all those workshop legend's especially in the heat of the moment. Really justify buying a problem? Not here, most of these coins have been to hell & back most have "problems". I concur I won't knowingly buy a coin with BD. But there's nothing wrong with a flan crack, or missing a piece of the coin, or a little roughness or corrosion, wear & tear. All those "problems" you worried about with modern coins. But to us ancients to me it's just more to love. Great coins by the way, congrats.
Great coins! Love me some Probus, snazzy dresser! I have several nice coins from that mint but they are all the longer legend type.
I really like the 'collectible' grade examples that you posted---all would be welcomed in my collection! Like Mat, my head spins a bit whenever I try to distinguish all the workshops LOL
