Probus Siscia Alfoldi 086.001

Probus Siscia SPES AVGVSTI NOSTRI

OBVERSE: IMP PROBVS INV AVG
REVERSE: SPES A - VGVSTI NOSTRI

EMMISION: 2

BUST TYPE: A2 = Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear (BASTIEN'S CLASSIFICATION)

FIELD / EXERGUE MARKS:  // XXI

LITERATURE: RIC 791 ; Alfoldi 086.001 (3ex)

RARITY: R3

NOTE:Extremely rare and desirable reverse type struck only during the second emmission at Siscia (the famous Invictvs series with INV[ictvs] title in obverse legend) .

One of the most sought-after reverses in the whole Probus' coinage;

This coin is listed on probuscoins.fr website (coin id no. 5068; R3 rating): https://probuscoins.fr/coin?id=5068

In April 277 Probus arrives in Sisci. However, his stay in the city is short, because the emperor stops in the country only once to reach Rome
as quickly as possible and obtain ratification of the new imperial title by the Senate. Then, in connection with the city's return to the country,
a short-lived issue of gold and Antoninian coins without annex markings was issued, which emphasized the ceremonial nature of the coins This coin, from the famous Invictus series (the second issue of Siscia described by K. Pink in "Der Aufbau der Römischen Münzpragung in der Kaiserzeit"),
is interesting due to two unusual epigraphic features. First of all, the coins of this series are characterized by the addition of "invictus" under the abbreviation INV
(or INVICT) and highlight the emperor's victorious campaigns. The second special feature of this series is the addition of the pronoun "Nostri" in the reverse legends,
which reflects the great pride of the entire Illyrian people in counting the emperor among their own, having managed to liberate and secure Roman territory. During this broadcast we will find the legends, VICT PROBI AVG NOSTRI, / PROV PROBI AVG NOSTRI / SPES AVGVSTI NOSTRI Of these three legends, the latter seems to be the rarest, which is reflected in photographic documentation and auctions. The Spes Avgvsti Nostri was last recorded
at the 2018 Gysen Coin Auction and this coin is the only coin listed on websites and auctions. It should be added that Alfoldi in his study on the Sisci mint
(Vorarbeiten zu einem Corpus der in Siscia geprägten römischen Kaisermünzen. Heft V. Verzeichnis der Antoniniane des Kaisers Probus, Budapest, 1939, 88 pp.
(ekstrakt de Numizmatikai Közlöny, vol VI -XXXVI I, 1937 -1938) refers to three known copies. One was in the Missonga collection, the second was found in
the La Venera treasury, and the third one in a museum in London .

Kolner Munzkabinet auction 121 lot 1303 = ex collection dr Victor Wishnevsky

Collezione : Probus Siscia