Virtus Probus Antoninianus

SevAlex's Rome coin is one I consider special - part of a series. Who recognizes it? The coin below is in the same group.

 

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Probus (Augustus)
Coin: Bronze Antoninianus
IMP CM AVR PROBVS AVG - radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
PROVIDEN DEOR - Providentia standing right, holding two standards, facing Sol standing left, holding globe and raising right hand. Star in lower centre.
Exergue:
Mint: Serdica (AD 277)
Wt./Size/Axis: 4.00g / 22mm / -
References:

• RIC V-2 Serdica 845
• Cohen 472

 

Here's a couple more interesting Probus types:

1. Probus with CONS IIII in obverse legend (SALVS AVG reverse)

2. Probus with PROBVS PIVS in obverse legend (SOLI INVICTO reverse)

 

I am very happy to see that one of my old friends has founded a good home.

 

I have to disagree with Bings attribution. The coin has R Wreath B in exe rather then Thunderbolt.

 

I was referring to this coin Martin:


I knew I should have been more clear and included an image of which coin I was talking about.

 

My mistake. Re-reading I can see my confusion.

 

Yeah, me too. I wasn't very clear.

 

Thanks for drawing my attention to this, @dougsmit! I think I have the answer: they're part of a series where the officina was doubly identified. In the exergue, first we have R for Rome. The last letter is the usual Greek letter for the officina (B=2nd for yours, Z=7th for mine). The middle letter comes from the sequence "AEQVITI", and identifies the officina by position in the sequence... so "E" for yours and "I" for mine.

Is that right?

 

Right! I have a page:
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/equiti.html

 

Very interesting! Also this page (where you're credited):
http://forumancientcoins.com/Articles/Codeword_Translation.htm

I now have a much deeper appreciation for my coin. Thank you!!

 

I thought that it might be worth while trying to explain what difference the thunderbolt makes when compared to a wreath in this context.

Each mint manufactured their coins in a series of what we call issues/emissions and across a range of workshops/officinae.

I will attempt to describe the usage of these at Rome for Probus as set out by Pink with his dating.

Issue 1 Mintmark - //XXIA to //XXIZ or A //XXI to Z // XXI - Dated to A.D. 276
Issue 2 Mintmark - //R, //RA to //RZ - Dated to A.D. 277
Issue 3 Mintmark - //R star A to //R star Z - Dated to A.D. 278
Issue 4 Mintmark - //R crescent A to //R crescent Z - Dated to A.D. 279
Issue 5 Mintmark - //R wreath A to //R wreath Z - Dated to A.D. 280
Issue 6 Mintmark - //R thunderbolt A to //R thunderbolt Z - Dated to A.D. 281
Issue 7 Mintmark - //RAA, //REB, //RQΓ, //RVΔ, //RIε, //RTς, //RIZ - Dated to A.D. 282 (AEQVITI)

Martin

 

Just out of curiosity, I showed this coin previously:


I know it's not great but it clearly shows CONS IIII in the obverse legend which is the year 281 (according to RIC) and the reverse not so clearly shows an XXI which in your chart shows as year 276. It certainly appears there were some pieces that didn't strictly adhere to the Pink dating method or maybe I'm misreading that chart.

 

My chart is for the output of Rome. Your coin is not from Rome.

Your coin is from Ticinum. There is actually a T before the XXI in exe which is the additional letter used by Ticinum. This coin is part of the EQVITI series of Ticinum, a parallel series to the coded series from Rome mentioned above. Your coin is RIC 504 Bust Type H and comes from the 9th issue/emission of Ticinum and is dated to A.D. 281 by Pink. The 10th issue from A.D. 282 is similar but has a star in the right field too.

Regards,
Martin

 

We might make clear that none of the reverse letters here have anything to do with dating. The assignment of coins to issue and emissions are based on studies of factors including hoard evidence not spelled out on the coins.

The Ticinum EQVITI coded series suffers from the fact that there are two I's in EQVITI. That means I is in the field for coins both of officina four (Q - quarta) and six (VI - because S was used by secunda so was not available for sexta). My obverse dated coin (last below) is CONS III (before 281 when Probus was Consul for the fourth and last time) while yours is IIII (later). Few coins of Probus had 'open dating'.

 

Here is my CONS III

 

Probus is unique in the parade of Roman emperors as having the portrait menu" with the greatest number of the most varied and often elaborately decorated of obverse types on his standard-issue circulating coins.

 

My Probus:


RI Probus 276-282 CE BI Ant 2.80g Cohen 768


RI Probus 276-282 CE Ant 21mm Riding Horse

 

This page illustrates that very point.

http://probvs.net/probvs/busts/b-bus-bustforms.html

 

Can anyone give any details on the Probus coin with 'PIUS' in the obverse legend? I have a copy but can't find any reference to it in RCV. Also, which mint is KHA? (I'm a beginner, as you might suspect!)