PROBUS RIC 527 SOLD

OBVERSE: VIRTVS PROBI INVCTI (sic!) AVG
REVERSE: SECVRIT PERP = Securitas standing left, leaning on column, legs crossed, hand raised to head
BUST TYPE: E1 = radiate, cuirassed and helmeted bust left, holding spear and shield 
FIELD / EXERGUE MARKS: -/I//VIXXI
WEIGHT 3.44g / AXIS: 12h / WIDTH 22-23mm
RIC 527
COLLECTION 353

Very rare and desirable legend with INVICTVS ("invincible") title. Aurelian was the first Roman emperor to introduce the INVICTVS title in regular coinage. Probus later borrowed this title and used it in rare emissions struck at Siscia, Ticinum and Serdica mints.

Extremely rare erroneous obverse legend: "INVCTI" instead of INVICTI (ommission of the letter "i") 

THIS COIN IS PART OF THE CODED EQVITI SERIES (see the letter "I" in right field which is the 6th lettter in the 6-letter EQVITI phrase. This coin was struck by the 6th officina, i.e. officina "VI"; there were 6 officinae at Ticinum mint at that time; each one struck a different reverse with a different letter from the EQVITI code). 

 in the left or right field:

E/-//PXXI (Concord Milit - 1st officina); 

Q/-//SXXI (Provident Avg; 2nd officina);

V/-//TXXI (Salvs Avg; 3rd officina);

I/-//QXXI (Marti Pacif; 4th officina);

T/-//VXXI (Pax Avgvsti; 5th officina);

-/I//VIXXI (Secvrit Perp; 6th officina)

For more information about the (A)EQVITI series see the below excellent article by Gert Boersema:

http://www.oudgeld.com/webbib/translation_codewords.htm

Sammlung : 04 Probus - Ticinum