ALFOLDI 034var. SOLD

OBVERSE: IMP PROBVS INV AVG
REVERSE: FIDES MILITVM (The standards; shields and bucina)
BUST TYPE: B = radiate, cuirassed bust right
FIELD / EXERGUE MARKS: -/-//KA
WEIGHT 3.99g / AXIS: 7h / WIDTH 22mm
Mint: Siscia
RIC: this reverse unlisted
ALFOLDI: this reverse unlisted!

Collection no. 1428

This extraordinary, exceedingly rare and spectacular reverse type is not listed by RIC neither by Alfodli in his corpus of Siscia coins under Probus. 

Only the second example of this exact type (with this bust type and revere legend) known. The other example was sold by Classical Numismatic Group Auction 85 (15.09.2010) lot n°1137: https://probuscoins.fr/coin?id=4685

This coin is illustrated and was first published by Philippe Gysen in the article, Antoniniani avec revers exceptionnel pour Probus, BCEN 35/2 (1998), 43-47, Fig. 4; see also article by Johan van Heesch "Deux aureliani exceptionnels de Probus", Revue Belge de Numismatique, Vol. CXXVI (1980), p. 97-101, where the same reverse is illustrated but with MILITVM FIDES legend and no mintmarks.

One of only 3 known coins in the world with this extraordinary reverse type and the FIDES MILITVM LEGEND (the other being in M. Vosper collection = ex Gysen collection = ex Jacquier auction 45 lot 1537 = ex NAC auction 8 (1995) lot 921, but with a different bust type, and the CNG auction 85 lot 1137 specimen already cited above). There are 3 additional similar specimens known with the same reverse type but with MILITVM FIDES reverse legend (not FIDES MILITVM as on my example) and no mintmarks (one in British Museum, one in Vienna - both examples illustrated in the above article by Johan van Heesch and one in M. Vosper collection = ex Helios Numismatic Auction 7 lot 897: https://probuscoins.fr/coin?id=489).

A true gem and a highlight of my Probus collection. A coin of the highest rarity and numismatic interest.

Great provenance: Paul Francis Jacquier Auction no. 46, September 2019 (II part of Philippe Gysen Collection) lot no. 452 (2.800 EUR hammer price + 23% buyer's premium = 3.444 EUR) = ex Philippe Gysen collection = ex Heidelberger Münzhandlung H. Grün, Auktion 20 (1997) Lot 1130.

This coin is listed in the Probuscoins.fr database under no. 488: https://probuscoins.fr/coin?id=488

Collezione : 05 Probus - Siscia