ALFOLDI 034 VAR. FIDEM MILITVM - REVERSE TYPE UNLISTED IN ALFOLDI

OBVERSE: IMP PROBVS INV AVG
REVERSE: FIDES MILITVM (The standards; shields and bucina)
BUST TYPE: B = radiate, cuirassed bust right
FIELD / EXERGUE MARKS: -/-//KA
WEIGHT 3.99g / AXIS: 7h / WIDTH 22mm
Mint: Siscia
RIC: Unlisted
ALFOLDI: Unlisted
This coin is illustrated and was first published by Ph. Gysen, Antoniniani avec revers exceptionnel pour Probus, BCEN 35/2 (1998), 43-47, Fig. 4; see also article by Johan van Heesch "Deux aureliani exceptionnels de Probus", Revue Belge de Numismatique, Vol. CXXVI (1980), p. 97-101, where the same reverse is illustrated but with MILITVM FIDES legend and no mintmarks.

COLLECTION NO. 1428

Provenance: Paul Francis Jacquier Auction no. 46 (II part of Ph. Gysen Collection) lot no. 452 = ex Ph. Gysen collection = ex Heidelberger Münzhandlung H. Grün, Auktion 20 (1997) Lot 1130.

One of only 3 known specimens in the world with this extraordinary reverse type and the FIDES MILITVM LEGEND (the other being in M. Vosper collection = ex Gysen collection = ex Jacquier auction 45 lot 1537 = ex NAC auction 8 (1995) lot 921 and CNG auction 85 lot 1137). There are 3 additional similar specimens known with the same reverse type but with MILITVM FIDES legend and no mintmarks (one in British Museum, one in Vienna - both examples illustrated in the above article by Johan van Heesch and one in M. Vosper collection = ex Helios Numismatic Auction 7 lot 897).

A true gem and one of the absolute highlights of my Probus collection. A coin of the highest rarity and numismatic interest!