I don't tend to add as many Probus coins to my collection as I would like. This one is a very common type but I bought it as an upgrade to my existing example. Probus Antoninianus Obv:– IMP C PROBVS • P • F • AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right Rev:– MARS VICTOR, Mars walking right, holding spear and trophy. Minted in Lugdunum (III in exe) Emission 4, Officina 3. November – Mid to End 277 A.D. Reference:– Cohen 334. Bastien 194. RIC 38 Bust type F Plenty of detail, with all legends and devices clear and nearly fully silvered. RIC and Bastien split this coin type into two groups. In RIC there are two coins that are would appear to be identical from their entries, RIC 38 and RIC 84. These are split as an early issue and a later issue. In Bastien the coins Bastien 194 and Bastien 287 are placed in Emissions 4 and 6 respectively. This coin can be used to illustrate the difference between the two types when illustrated with the following coin. Probus Antoninianus Obv:– IMP C PROBVS • P • F • AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right Rev:– MARS VICTOR, Mars walking right, holding spear and trophy Minted in Lugdunum (III in exe) Emission 6, Officina 3. 278 - 279 A.D. Reference:– Cohen 334. Bastien 287. RIC 84 Bust Type F There are no clues from the legends nor from the reverse type. The differences are all due to the detailing of the bust. The earlier coin the bust is broader with a thicker neck and there is very little of the chest of the cuirass visible. The later coin has a smaller portrait, longer thin neck and much more chest of the cuirass visible. That is a lot of blather but is my justification for illustrating my first Probus of the year. Martin
Nice addition => great start to the year, Martin ... Hey, perhaps 2015 will be the year that you snag the L. Papius "Snake-and-Dog" combo? Cheers
I take it both coins are yours? I like both, but the portrait on the second coin, Bastien 287, is fantastic.
Yes Bing both are mine and I need to update the photos on my Probus collection and will get round to it in time.
Steve, I turned down two chances in 2014 as the coins were not up to the standard set by your example. I can but hope that 2015 will offer more opportunities but I am willing to be patient. Cheers, Martin
Probus has some great coins. I wish they were silver. A nice silver washed example is just as excellent IMO.
my 1e impuls 2015. , i saw it and wow. Reference. RIC 207. Probus Æ Antoninianus. Rome, 278 AD Obv: IMP PROBVS AVG. Radiate and mantled bust left, holding eagle-tipped scepter. Rev: SOLI INVICTO / R(pellet in crescent)E. Sol driving quadriga left, raising hand and holding reins, globe and whip. Weight: 4.24 g. Diameter: 25 mm.
i guess these coins have lower silver % then a Hadrian Denarius. or were they silvered? or none cheers, Eric
They were just under 5% silver and then silver washed. Most have lost all of their silver by the time they wear to VF and many seemingly uncirculated ones are patchy at best. I do not have the OP type with silver but below is a different Rome mint coin with quite a bit remaining.
When new, this one looked the same color as the above but now it looks completely silver free since the 5% is masked by the 95% base metals.
