Need some help with Alexandrian Probus, Billon Tet – please…

[Tiathena]

 
         Greetings all,
 
   Wondering whether I might get some help with this one, as well?
  The only references I can find (not those cited, which I do not have access to), make this rather ambiguous.
  I’m not a little confused and uncertain as to when this coin must have been struck.
  If in the 7th year of his reign, dating from his ‘assumption’ when proclaimed by his troops in 276 (or even after becoming sole Imperator following the death of Florianus, also 276), that would make this date of his reign one year after his assassination – (September or October, 282 AD.).

  The 7th year, should be 283 AD.
  So what am I missing here?

   I would also appreciate if anyone might know what the first letters are of the Obverse Legend here, as I can ‘read’ only from the ‘AVG …’
 
  Here is the coin in question & what attributive information I have for it hitherto: *
 

                Probus * Eagle, Alexandria, Egypt * 276-282 AD.  Billon Tetradrachm
 
           
 
 
                Probus * Eagle with wreath, Alexandria, Egypt *
 
      Obv: AVG PROBOC CEB * Laureate, draped and cuirassed, right facing.
      Rev: Eagle standing right facing, wings partially extended, bound wreath in beak.
      L and Z to left and right fields, respectively.
 
      L Z * Year VII of the Emperor's Reign.
 
      Exergue: (Clear)
 
      Mint: Alexandria
      Struck: 281-282 AD.
 
      Size:       18 mm.
      Weight:   7.09 grams
      Die axis:  0°
 
      Refs:*
      Dattari, 5558
      Geissen, 3154
 
 
    If anyone can please help shed some light on this, I’ll be most appreciative – thanks very much…

  Best, as always –
  Tia
 
 

[mauseus]

Hi Tia,

You are confusing regnal year with Alexandrian regnal year.

The Alexandrian regnal year begins, I think, on August 29th. If an emperor ascends the throne on, say, August 10th he would be year 1 for 19 days until Aug 29th when he becomes year 2.

Probus ascends in Alexandrian year corresponding to 275/6, that is, before August 29th 276 so his years run:

276 = 1
276/7 = 2
277/8 = 3
278/9 = 4
279/80 = 5
280/1 = 6
281/2 = 7
282/3 = 8

To add to the confusion the news of imperial succession can be delayed skewing some emperor's Alexandrian years. Also you get the re-alignment under Aurelian of his Alexandrian years half way through his reign to ignore the reign of Vaballathus and, I think, also Quintillus.

Regards,

Mauseus

[mauseus]

Hi Tia,

I have in my gallery a Probus tetradrachm from year 8,  struck after August 282 but before (or possibly just after) his murder in autumn 282. Thus it constitutes one of the last coins of the reign.

Regards,

Mauseus

[Tiathena]

 
       Hi Mauseus!

  Ah-ha!
  Well – that sure explains it then – thanks Very much!
  I had No idea there was such a thing and such difference!

  Very nice coin you have as well!
  These things are really thick, too, aren’t they?  Never seen anything quite like it before.

  Many & much thanks Mauseus!
  So my strike date is fine then, and now I understand how that can be year 7!


   Yours most gratefully,
   Tia
 
 

[Steve Minnoch]

The first letters of the obv are I believe A K M AVP
(the full is the equivalent of Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Probus Augustus)

I would not expect to see AV(gamma) and CEB in the same obv legend.

Steve

[Tiathena]

 
        Hi Steve,

  Thanks for the additional thoughts in response to my remaining question as stated in the original Post.
  My apology, too, that I didn’t make it back (before passing out) to let it be known I finally did uncover the answer to that one myself.

  You’re very close with what you’ve said here.
  It is actually: *

    Obv: A K M  AYP PROBOC CEB * Laureate, draped and cuirassed, right facing.
 
    * Legend: A K M  AYP PROBOC CEB (Autokrator Kaisaros Markos Aurelios Probos Sebastos).
 
   As you correctly point out, the Latin translation of this is:
  Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Probus Augustus.
 
  I believe I now have a full & complete attribution and description for this coin with the image as seen in my Gallery.
 
            https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?p=7495

  Many thanks again for your reply & helpfulness!

  Best,
  Tia