Probus calliope reverse - why the interest?

[gavignano]

On e bay is the extremely rare Probus coin. Other than obviously being incredibly scarce, why is the interest in this coin so high? In other words, why is this particular Probus so rare? Something controversial about the coin in ancient times, or what?

[link removed by mod]

[Marius]

Harlan J Berk sold a very nice one of these five or ten years ago.  They wrote an interesting article on it too.  I think I still have the catalog and I'll look for it on the week-end (I have a lot of homework at the moment) and summarize what it said. 

[Numerianus]

The article by Curtis Clay can be found here at probvs.info:
http://probvs.info/probvs/R641un/R641un.html

The pic is of
Lanz Auction 100, November 20, 2000
Ex Harlan J. Berk, 91.
Apparently, is of differents obverse and reverse dies.

[gavignano]

Thanks Numerianus - very interesting write up - the theory that either they were pulled out of circ or only a few made it into circ makes good sense. This coin on e bay should go thru the roof - it will be fun to watch. The Probus specialists are looking at a rare chance.....Joe

[Bacchus]

Not being familiar with the type, when I first saw this coin - or rather it's image as one in a forth coming auction - For about 5 seconds, I thought the deity was looking through a telescope.  Now that would have been a rarity
Malcolm

[gavignano]

Now this coin is sitting on a bid of 1625 USD, about 700 hits to the page. Interesting. I've done some internet searching -is it possible only about 5 of these are known? To bad its about 1525 out of my price range   

[gavignano]

Here is one other piece of info - from the CNG catalogue sale in Jan 2006, on why this is so rare:

"The coin's attribution to Siscia along the northern frontier is also important. Upon his proclamation as emperor by his troops following the murder of Aurelian, Probus advanced toward Rome. While making his way there, he and his forces defeated the Goths and Germans, and refortified the empire's northern boundaries. During these early days, Siscia would have offered a strong central base from which such operations could occur, and from here the start of a new imperial court could begin. With Probus' assumption to the consulship bolstered by these early successes, it is quite likely that the ceremonies surrounding this event included an epic panegyric (over which the Muse Calliope would have presided), and the distribution of special coins to those in attendance, thus accounting for this issue's extreme rarity and lack of mintmark."