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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Roman Coins| ▸ |Recovery of the Empire| ▸ |Probus||View Options:   | | | Marcus Aurelius Probus was the son of a soldier and was himself a simple soldier at the beginning of his career. By the reign of Aurelian, he was one of the Empire's foremost generals. After the death of Tacitus, he was declared emperor and after the murder of Florian, he was left undisputed master of the Roman world. He embarked on a series of economic revival programs bringing great peace and prosperity to the empire. He was murdered by mutinous soldiers, enraged at being employed on public building projects. |
In 279, Probus defeated the Burgundians and Vandals in Raetia and Pannonia (modern Switzerland and Hungary).RA110128. Billon antoninianus, RIC V-2 532, Cohen VI 120, Hunter IV -, SRCV III -, EF, well centered, some silvering, encrustations, weight 2.986 g, maximum diameter 22.2 mm, die axis 315o, 1st officina, Ticinum (Pavia, Italy) mint, 279 A.D.; obverse IMP C PROBVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right; reverse CONCORD MILIT (harmony with the soldiers), Concordia standing slightly left, head left, flanked by standard in each hand, AXXI in exergue;
Probus started as a simple soldier but advanced to general and was declared emperor after the death of Tacitus. Florian's murder left him as undisputed ruler. His leadership brought peace and prosperity but he was murdered by mutinous soldiers, enraged at being employed on public building projects.RA111887. Billon antoninianus, RIC V-2 862, Cohen VI 655, SRCV III -, Hunter IV 303 var. (2nd officina), VF, much silvering remaining, weight 3.013 g, maximum diameter 23.8 mm, die axis 0o, 3rd officina, Serdica (Sofia, Bulgaria) mint, 277 A.D.; obverse IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG, radiate bust left in consular robe, eagle-tipped scepter in right; reverse SOLI INVICTO (to the invincible sun god), Sol in a spread quadriga facing, radiate, cloak billowing out behind, raising right hand commanding sunrise, whip in left hand, KA•Δ• in exergue;
After Probus left 400,000 barbarians dead in the fields of Germany and Gaul, all the tribes of the north were terrified to peace. He then marched east, defeating the Blemmyes with tremendous slaughter. Knowing he was next, the Persian king sued for peace and attempted to buy Probus' favor with splendid presents. Probus was dining upon the most common food when the ambassadors were introduced. Without even casting his eyes upon them, he said that if their master did not give proper satisfaction to Rome, he would lay Persia as desolate and as naked as the crown of his head. As he spoke the Emperor took off his cap and showed the baldness of his head to the ambassadors. His conditions were gladly accepted. Thus Probus earned the title Restitutor Orbis or "Restorer of the World."RA23927. Billon antoninianus, Hunter IV 333 (also 1st officina); RIC V-2 925F; Cohen VI 509; Pink VI p. 40, 2nd emission; SRCV III 12021, Choice aEF, centered, nice portrait, some silvering, weight 3.438 g, maximum diameter 21.2 mm, die axis 225o, 1st officina, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 280 A.D.; obverse IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse RESTITVT ORBIS (to the restorer of the world), woman (on left) and Emperor stand confronted, woman presenting wreath, Emperor holds globe in right and long scepter in left hand, A between them, XXI in exergue;
In 276, Florianus was assassinated near Tarsus by his own troops after only weeks of ruling. Probus, age 44, was proclaimed the new Emperor of Rome. This type was among his first issues. Alföldi believed the bust on this type resembled Florian.RL98386. Billon antoninianus, Alföldi Siscia V type 26, 20; RIC V-2 651C; Cohen VI 137; Hunter IV 280 var. (1st officina); SRCV III -, Choice VF, some silvering, well centered, attractive portrait, light deposits, weight 3.748 g, maximum diameter 21.9 mm, die axis 0o, 4th officina, Siscia (Sisak, Croatia) mint, 2nd half 276 A.D.; obverse IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front; reverse CONCORD MILIT (harmony with the soldiers), Probus (on left) and Concordia standing confronted, clasping hands, Δ in center, XXI in exergue;
The Roman's believed Jupiter granted protection and success to his favorites, who tended to be people in positions of authority similar to his own.RL94820. Billon antoninianus, Hunter IV 350 (same rev. legend break), RIC V-2 928C, Cohen VI 87, SRCV III -, VF, well centered, dark patina, earthen encrustation, reverse die wear, weight 3.674 g, maximum diameter 23.04 mm, die axis 0o, Tripolis (Tripoli, Lebanon) mint, 276 - 282 BC; obverse IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse CLEMENTIA TEMP (time of peace and calm), Emperor, on left, standing right, holding eagle tipped scepter, receiving globe from Jupiter, Jupiter standing left, nude but for cloak over shoulder, long scepter vertical in left hand, crescent with horns up lower center, KA in exergue; from the Ray Nouri Collection; scarcer mint;
After Probus left 400,000 barbarians dead in the fields of Germany and Gaul, all the tribes of the north were terrified to peace. He then marched east, defeating the Blemmyes with tremendous slaughter. Knowing he was next, the Persian king sued for peace and attempted to buy Probus' favor with splendid presents. Probus was dining upon the most common food when the ambassadors were introduced. Without even casting his eyes upon them, he said that if their master did not give proper satisfaction to Rome, he would lay Persia as desolate and as naked as the crown of his head. As he spoke the Emperor took off his cap and showed the baldness of his head to the ambassadors. His conditions were gladly accepted. Thus Probus earned the title Restitutor Orbis or "Restorer of the World."RL94812. Billon antoninianus, Hunter IV 334 (also 3rd officina); RIC V-2 925C; Cohen VI 509; Pink VI, 2nd emission, p. 40; SRCV III 12021, VF, dark patina, heavy earthen deposits, weight 3.220 g, maximum diameter 21.4 mm, die axis 0o, 3rd officina, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 280 A.D.; obverse IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse RESTITVT ORBIS (to the restorer of the world), woman on left, standing right, presenting wreath to Probus; Probus on right, standing left, globe in right hand, long scepter vertical in left hand, Γ in center, XXI in exergue; from the Ray Nouri Collection;
This issue is listed as undated in RIC, but Pink dates this type to 280 A.D., in "Der Aufbau der Römischen münzprägung in der Kaiserzeit: VI/1. Probus" in NZ 73 (1949).RL94818. Billon antoninianus, Hunter IV 353, RIC V-2 927C, Cohen VI 91, SRCV III -, gF, dark patina, nice portrait, earthen deposits, weight 4.268 g, maximum diameter 22.8 mm, die axis 0o, Tripolis (Tripoli, Lebanon) mint, 280 A.D.; obverse IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse CLEMENTIA TEMP (time of peace and calm), Emperor, on left, standing right, holding eagle tipped scepter, receiving globe from Jupiter, Jupiter standing left, nude but for cloak over shoulder, long scepter vertical in left hand, * in center, XXI in exergue; from the Ray Nouri Collection; scarce mint;
In 280, Julius Saturninus, the governor of Syria, was made emperor by his troops. Probus besiege him at Apamea, where he was captured and executed.RL94811. Billon antoninianus, Hunter IV 347C (also 5th officina); RIC V-2 921; SRCV III 11960; Cohen VI 87; Pink VI-1, p. 40, 2, aVF, well centered, heavy earthen deposits, porosity, weight 3.771 g, maximum diameter 22.0 mm, die axis 0o, 5th officina, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 280 - 281 A.D.; obverse IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse CLEMENTIA TEMP (time of peace and calm), Probus on left, standing right, in military garb, transverse eagle-tipped scepter in left hand, receiving globe from Jupiter with right hand, Jupiter on right, standing left, nude but for cloak, long scepter vertical in left hand, offering globe with right hand, E• in center, XXI in exergue; from the Ray Nouri Collection;
| The ruins of Antioch on the Orontes lie near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey. Founded near the end of the 4th century B.C. by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch's geographic, military and economic location, particularly the spice trade, the Silk Road, the Persian Royal Road, benefited its occupants, and eventually it rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the Near East and as the main center of Hellenistic Judaism at the end of the Second Temple period. Antioch is called "the cradle of Christianity," for the pivotal early role it played in the emergence of the faith. It was one of the four cities of the Syrian tetrapolis. Its residents are known as Antiochenes. Once a great metropolis of half a million people, it declined to insignificance during the Middle Ages because of warfare, repeated earthquakes and a change in trade routes following the Mongol conquests, which then no longer passed through Antioch from the far east. |  |
In 280, Julius Saturninus, the governor of Syria, was made emperor by his troops. Probus besiege him at Apamea, where he was captured and executed.RL94825. Billon antoninianus, RIC V-2 921C, SRCV III 11960, Cohen VI 87, Pink VI-1, p. 40, 2, Hunter IV 340 var. (2nd officina), F, earthen encrusted, ragged edge, reverse die wear, holed, weight 3.971 g, maximum diameter 23.0 mm, die axis 180o, 1st officina, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 280 - 281 A.D.; obverse IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse CLEMENTIA TEMP (time of peace and calm), emperor standing right, holding eagle tipped scepter, receiving globe from Jupiter standing left holding long scepter, A• in center, XXI in exergue; from the Ray Nouri Collection;
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