Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 108 13 Apr 2023
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Probus BI Antoninianus. Serdica, AD 280-281. BONO IMP PROBO INVICT AVG, radiate, helmeted and cuirassed bust to left, holding spear and parma shield / VIRTVS PROBI AVG, emperor spearing and riding down enemy to right; shield beneath horse, KA•Δ• in exergue. RIC V.2 884 var. (obv. legend, bust type); probuscoins.fr 2689 (this coin). 3.65g, 23mm, 12h.
Extremely Fine. Extremely rare obverse legend.
This coin published at Probus Coins Online (https://probuscoins.fr/);
From the collection of a Polish connoisseur of Probus coins;
Ex Gabinet Numizmatyczny D. Marciniak, Auction 16, 4 February 2022, lot 139;
Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 229, 10 March 2015, lot 1844.
RIC distinguishes the mint at Serdica (which had been established by Aurelian) for using long obverse legends, "some of which...are peculiar to, and, judging from issues of other emperors, characteristic of its work" (p. 13). The obverse legend on this coin is illustrative of this as it reads "[To the] Good Imperator Probus [the] Invincible Augustus". Probus was the only emperor to call himself BONVS, whilst the title INVICTVS had been introduced by Aurelian and was used by Probus on rare occasions at this mint and also at Siscia and Ticinum.
Probus is holding a Roman parma (parmula), a small, round shield used by soldiers and gladiators during close combat. Its use on coinage is scarce and limited to small series struck at Siscia, Ticinum, Serdica and Cyzicus. For more information see D. Margetić and D. Margetić, 'The Bust of Probus with a Parma Shield on Sisak Antoniniani', in Numizmatičke Vijesti, vol. 51, no. 62, pp. 30–30, (Nov. 2009).
Extremely Fine. Extremely rare obverse legend.
This coin published at Probus Coins Online (https://probuscoins.fr/);
From the collection of a Polish connoisseur of Probus coins;
Ex Gabinet Numizmatyczny D. Marciniak, Auction 16, 4 February 2022, lot 139;
Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 229, 10 March 2015, lot 1844.
RIC distinguishes the mint at Serdica (which had been established by Aurelian) for using long obverse legends, "some of which...are peculiar to, and, judging from issues of other emperors, characteristic of its work" (p. 13). The obverse legend on this coin is illustrative of this as it reads "[To the] Good Imperator Probus [the] Invincible Augustus". Probus was the only emperor to call himself BONVS, whilst the title INVICTVS had been introduced by Aurelian and was used by Probus on rare occasions at this mint and also at Siscia and Ticinum.
Probus is holding a Roman parma (parmula), a small, round shield used by soldiers and gladiators during close combat. Its use on coinage is scarce and limited to small series struck at Siscia, Ticinum, Serdica and Cyzicus. For more information see D. Margetić and D. Margetić, 'The Bust of Probus with a Parma Shield on Sisak Antoniniani', in Numizmatičke Vijesti, vol. 51, no. 62, pp. 30–30, (Nov. 2009).