PROBUS MPR 490 aeqviti

OBVERSE: PROBVS P F AVG
REVERSE: IOVI CONS PROB AVG
BUST TYPE: B = radiate, cuirassed bust right
FIELD / EXERGUE MARKS: -/-//REB
WEIGHT 3.66g / AXIS: 6h / WIDTH: 19-21mm
RIC: 175 VAR. (MINTMARK REB UNLISTED)
J.GUILLEMAIN, MONETAZIONE DI PROBO A ROMA (276-282 d.C.), 2009: 490 (101 EX.)
COLLECTION NO. 443

This coin is part of the famous coded Aeqviti series (see the letter "E" in the exergue, which is the 2nd letter of the AEQVITI word struck by the 2nd officina, i.e. officina "B"; Rome used greek numerals for designation of particular officinae), discovered and first published by Alexander Missong in his articale ‘Gleichartig systemisirte Münzreihen unter Kaiser Probus’ (1873).

There were 7 officinae at the Roman mint at that time; each one struck a different reverse with a different letter from the 7-letter AEQVITI code in the exergue. Putting all seven coins together we get the code AEQVITI. the letter "R" stands for Rome; the last letter in the exergue is the number designation of the officina (in greek numerals) and the letter in the middle is the letter of the code: RAA; REB; RQΓ; RVΔ; RIE; RTζ; RIZ  

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

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

The coded series from Rome is much rarer and more difficult to complete than the coded EQVITI series from the Ticinum mint of the 9th and 10th issues!

Collezione : 03 Probus - Roma