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OBVERSE: VIRTVS PROBI AVG
REVERSE: ERCVLI PACIF = Hercules standing left, holding olive=branch, club and lion's skin
BUST TYPE: F1 = radiate, cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield (VOTIS X ET XX inscription on shield)
FIELD / EXERGUE MARKS: -/-//SXXT
WEIGHT 3.66g / AXIS: 12h / DIAMETER: 21-22mm
RIC: 376 VAR. (UNLISTED WITH VOTIS X ET XX ON SHIELD)
COLLECTION NO. 1288
NOTE: Extremely rare and desirable military bust with shield decorated with the VOTIS X ET XX inscription. One of the highlights of this specialized Probus collection!
Only the second example of this variant available on the market! The other example was sold by Numismatica Ars Classica in 2016 for 3,750 CHF + buyer's premium (see NAC auction 92 lot 665: https://www.sixbid-coin-archive.com#/en/single/l27165960
Probus coins with military busts with shields decorated with the Votis X et XX inscription have always been eagerly sought after by collectors. Already in the XIXth century the famous French numismatist Henri Cohen in his catalogue "Description historique des monnaies frappées sous l'empire romain communément appelées médailles impériales" priced the Votis shield coin (in combination with the more popular Felicitas Sec reverse) at 40 francs, where the vast majority of common Probus antoninians were valued at less than 1 franc, the rare Deo Et Domino or Perpetvo titulatures were valued at 10 francs, only two Probus antoninians were valued higher, i.e. at 100 francs (Calliope Avg and Adlocvtio Avg), most Probus aurei cost 100-120 francs, while large bronze or gold medallions of the weight of several aurei were priced at 400-500 francs (today such medallions reach 100,000-300,000 EUR at auctions!).
Provenance: ex Philippe Gysen Probus collection = Ex Spink, NumCirc 99/4 (1991), lot 2660
Collection : 04 Probus - Ticinum