ALFOLDI 009.006 SOLD

OBVERSE: IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG
REVERSE: ADVENTVS PROBI AVG
BUST TYPE: H2 = Radiate bust left in consular robe, holding eagle-tipped sceptre (scipio)
FIELD / EXERGUE MARKS: -/-//-
WEIGHT 3.63g / AXIS: 12h / WIDTH 20-22mm
MINT: Siscia
RIC 632 VAR. (UNLISTED WITH NO MINTMARKS)
ALFOLDI 009.006 (1 ex. cited)
COLLECTION NO. 980

This is only the 4th specimen of this type known!

Extremely rare variant with no mintmarks. Probus Adventvs Probi Avg and Soli Invicto issues without mintmarks are very rare and desirable. They were struck in Cyzicus, Serdica, Siscia, Rome and Lugdunum mints and were distributed as part of the imperial donativa during the Emperor's Adventvs (visit) to these cities. Regular Adventvs Probi Avg and Soli Invicto issues with mintmarks in exergue were usually struck long after Probus had left the city. Attribution of these interesting Donativa coins to a particular mint - due to lack of any mintmarks - is done on the basis of careful analysis of their style, especially the style of the emperor's portrait and the lettering as well as die links with later emmissions which have mintmarks typical for particular mints. These coins are often misattributed becauase RIC V.2 only cites Adentvs Probi Avg reverse with no mintmarks under no. 904 (Cyzicus mint) and Soli Invicto reverse with no mintmarks under no. 101 (Lugdunum mint).

Provenance: ex Solidus Numismatik Auction no. 15 lot 360

Collection : 05 Probus - Siscia