Humilau's Top 10 Coins 2023

[Humilau]

10. Probus - Siscia Clementia Temp V/KA E2 Bust 

Starting off this top ten, I have an antoninianus of Probus from Siscia with a CLEMENTIA TEMP reverse. This coin falls in line with my specialized inner collection of Probus from Siscia of Antoniniani with the KA exergue markings. 

 

This Antoninianus is a great addition to my collection because it would be the first in my collection from the Fifth Officina for the KA exergue types. The few KA exergue coins from the Fifth Officina are presented with the H2 consular bust with Probus in a consular mantle; however, this example features a military cuirassed E2 bust with the shield in front. 

 

This example is unlisted in Alföldi and so far is unique. I have another one with the same intriguing unlisted bust type for the issue, but from the Fourth Officina which sadly did not find room on the list this year.

OBVERSE: IMP C M AVR PROBVS PF AVG
REVERSE: CLEMENTIA TEMP
BUST TYPE: E2
FIELD / EXERGUE MARKS: -/V//KA

Officina: 5

Alfoldi 17/(Unlisted with E2 Bust)
RIC 643

 

9. Probus - Siscia Secvrit Perp

At number nine, we have another rarity from the mint of Siscia. This reverse design and legend is extremely rare at the mint of Siscia. Variations of Securitas at the mint of Siscia followed the legend SECVRITAS SAECVLI or the rare SECVRITAS PERPETVA. However, those reverses appear earlier in the mint of Siscia’s timeline during the INV obverse legend period and are of a different engraving style. 

The obverse and reverse dies of this SECVRIT PERP example decently resembles the style of the parallel SECVRIT PERP issues of Ticinum, but this example is still from Siscia.

Observing the very few examples of this SECVRIT PERP reverses that exist, it is entirely possible that this design was only struck at Siscia with one reverse die. This coin is also plated in “LE REGNE DE L'EMPEREUR PROBUS” by Stéphane Hiland and Christophe Oliva.

OBVERSE: IMP C PROBVS PF AVG
REVERSE: SECVRIT PERP
BUST TYPE: B
FIELD / EXERGUE MARKS: -/-//XXIV

Emission: 4

Officina: 5

WEIGHT 3.7g / AXIS: 12h / DIAMETER: 23mm

Alfoldi 067/002
RIC 757

Ex. Roma Esale 113, lot 1193. Collection of Barnaba Skibniewski.

Ex. Paul Francis Jacquier auction 45, lot 1566. Philippe Gysen Collection

 

8. Probus - Siscia Soli Invicto Double Strike Overstrike

A very interesting and perfectly preserved from the mint of Siscia. This 100% fully silvered Probus featured him in a consular mantle on the obverse holding a scepter in the normal H2 Bust. However, the reverse is where it is interesting. 

First, the SOLI INVICTO design is present which was run for a lengthy amount of time at Siscia during Probus’s reign. But what is more interesting is the left side of the reverse where the legend breaks down and reveals “VIR” and “TV” which are separated at different levels. The SOLI INVICTO reverse is overstruck on a VIRTVS PROBI AVG reverse, but an extremely rare variant of that reverse where Mars while walking towards the right with a trophy on his shoulder has the addition of two captives on either side of him. 

What exists of the undertype is part of the captive, the trophy, and a fragment of the reverse legend. This rare reverse was actually double struck which is seen with that level separation of “VIR” and “TV” before then being overstruck by the SOLI INVICTO reverse. 

OBVERSE: IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG
REVERSE: SOLI INVICTO (QUADRIGA TO LEFT)

BUST TYPE: H2
FIELD / EXERGUE MARKS: -/-//XXIT

Emission: 6

Officina: 3

WEIGHT 3.0g / AXIS: 12h / WIDTH 21-24mm
RIC 767
ALFOLDI 076.147 (14 ex. cited)

Note: Overstruck on Alfoldi 94 / RIC 810. Mars walking right with 2 captives undertype

 

7. Probus - Siscia E8 Heroic Aegis Bust

A very special and rare bust for the mint of Siscia described as “Radiate and helmeted bust of Probus on the left in heroic nudity carrying the aegis on the left shoulder and a spear pointed forward”. This type of bust with the heroically nude stance in aegis is a very neat bust type that, under Probus, mostly appears at the mint of Ticinum as a rare issue, but also at Rome and Siscia. Though the helmeted variety only appears at Ticinum and Siscia. Siscia is the rarest mint to find this bust type for any variation of it. 

For this bust type at Siscia, in my studies I have only encountered a small handful, probably about visible 5-6ish examples. For the VIRTVS PROBI AVG reverse with Q/XXI as the Officina and exergue markings it is also unlisted in Alföldi. These antoniniani are only probably struck with two different obverse dies with my example being the die I wanted most out of the two.

 

OBVERSE: IMP C M AVR PROBVS PF AVG
REVERSE: VIRTVS PROBI AVG
BUST TYPE: E8
FIELD / EXERGUE MARKS: -/Q//XXI

Emission: 5

Officina: 4

WEIGHT 3.77g / DIAMETER: 22mm

Alfoldi 96/(Unlisted)
RIC 811

 

6. Probus - Siscia E1 Double Adventus 

This Probus was a very nice addition earlier this year when I spotted it for sale. With a boldly struck reverse, a nice military bust of Probus, and decent silvering it was an instant buy. 

This coin features a scene of the Adventus, or Probus’s entrance, to the city of Siscia in around mid-277 CE on his march to Rome. With a rarer obverse legend for the mint, VIRTVS PROBI AVG (virtue of the emperor Probus), this is a special issue taken with extreme care to engrave. Probus on the obverse is featured in a cuirassed bust carrying a shield and spear while wearing a pseudo-corinthian helmet with the radiate crown, symbol of the antoninianus, embedded within. What is interesting to note is that the shield is engraved with the scene of Adventus with Probus in the back on a horse and a row of soldiers carrying shields in the foreground. The reverse is engraved with another scene of the Adventus with Probus on horseback and hand raised. A captive is seated below the horse. So with the obverse and reverse both containing scenes of the Adventus it really is a fun die paring to have on a coin.

OBVERSE: VIRTVS PROBI AVG
REVERSE: ADVENTVS PROBI AVG

BUST TYPE: E1
FIELD / EXERGUE MARKS: -/-//XXIς

Emission: 3

Officina: 6

WEIGHT 4.7g / AXIS: 12h / WIDTH 22mm
RIC: 634
ALFOLDI 009/033

 

5. Probus - Siscia VIR-2 at Siscia 

The VIR variations of the VIRTVS PROBI AVG reverses are noted by the late Philippe Gysen in his paper “Nouvelles données concernant L'Atelier De Serdica Sous Le Régne De Probus” which are VIR-1 and VIR-2. VIR-1 involves a scene of Probus on horseback spearing a fallen enemy with an exergue line, acting as the ground, separating the exergue from the rest of the scene. VIR-2 on the other hand blends both the exergue markings and the scene together into one fluid reverse design that involves a more dynamic pose for the emperor on horseback. Gysen dates the VIR-1 types to the initial emission at Serdica before a hiatus in 277 CE while the VIR-2 is said to be in the year 280 CE when the mint reopens. 

 

This coin here is an example of the VIR-2 reverse, but from Siscia? After the Serdica mint closed in 277 CE, Probus had moved them to the mint of Siscia so on some of the mid-277 CE issues of coinage you can find some holdovers from the engravers of the mint of Serdica in the style of engraving or a reverse design here or there. Another coin later on the list is a very obvious fact of that move. Since the reverse of this Siscia example is a VIR-2 it predates Gysens dating for the mint of Serdica by three years for the design. It is probable that the VIR-2 reverses were actually struck in 277 CE before the closure of the mint of Serdica and then briefly struck at the mint of Siscia alongside the VIR-1 types before those designs were ended all together a little time later and the style of engraving shifted and the latin officina system was introduced. This VIR-2 reverse with the VIRTVS PROBI AVG legends seems to be unlisted in Alföldi at least with the XXIB markings. Closest that there is seems to be a B//XXI mark, but that is only in drawing by Alföldi. The VIR-2 design with a different reverse legend at Siscia briefly in the same timeframe as the VIR-2 VIRTVS PROBI AVG reverse. This other reverse legend is the VIRTVS AVGVSTI legend which actually has variants containing the VIR-2 design in both latin and greek officina letters, so it would be at the point of transition for the mint.

OBVERSE: IMP C M AVR PROBVS PF AVG
REVERSE: VIRTVS PROBI AVG

BUST TYPE: H2
FIELD / EXERGUE MARKS: -/-//XXIB

Emission: 3

Officina: 2

RIC: 817
ALFOLDI 097/(Unlisted)

 

4. Diocletian - Lugdunum Bastien Double Plate Coin

A very rare pick up from CNG a few months ago. A Diocletian antoninianus which is plated in Bastien's "Le Monnayage De L'Atelier De Lyon: Diocletian Et Ses Coregents Avant La Reforme Monetaire (285-294)” from 1972. This coin is an example of type 311c for the Bastien references which are the main point of reference material for the mint of Lugdunum in the late third century. This coin is actually plated twice in Bastien: Once as the example for type 311c and then again as the example of the H bust for the whole reference book!

What makes a lot of Bastien plates interesting is that a lot of them are from public collections so they are not accessible to buy to the private collector. This coin is one of those few examples that is from a private collection that was plated. It is also plated in the main publication and not in any supplement volumes.

OBVERSE: IMP DIOCLETIANVS P AVG

REVERSE: IOVI AVGG

BUST TYPE: H

FIELD / EXERGUE MARKS: -/-//A

Emission: 7

Officina: 1

Mint: Lugdunum

WEIGHT 4.28g / AXIS: 7h / DIAMETER: 22mm

Bastien 311c (this coin). Plate XXII

 

Ex. Cng E-sale 544, Lot 558

Ex. Leu Numismatic Web Auction 11 (February 22nd, 2020), Lot 1907

Ex. Münzen und Medaillen GmbH 43 (26th February, 2016), Lot 559

Ex. The New York Sale Auction 25 (January 5th, 2012), Lot 243

Ex. G. Gautier Collection

Plated: Le Monnayage De L'Atelier De Lyon: Diocletian Et Ses Coregents Avant La Reforme Monetaire (285-294). 1972. Plate XXII

 

3. Probus - Siscia Clementia Temp Q/KA

A very big win for me for research purposes. An antoninianus with the CLEMENTIA TEMP reverse. Sharply struck on the obverse with a weaker strike on the reverse. It is another KA exergue coin, so obviously it had to enter my collection when I first saw it for sale. It is also unlisted in Alföldi. I know I have a lot of coins on this list that aren’t listed in Alföldi and that makes it seem like he has nothing listed in that publication lmao. But in reality, he has a lot. He had access to many museum collections and even the Vienna collection of thousands of Probus. Hundreds upon hundreds of variations are in Alföldi, I just happen to find the ones not in there. This coin is one of a few personal favorites. 

OBVERSE: IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG
REVERSE: CLEMENTIA TEMP

BUST TYPE: H2
FIELD / EXERGUE MARKS: Q//KA

WEIGHT 4.1g / AXIS: 6h / DIAMETER: 22 mm

RIC 644
ALFOLDI 017 / (Unlisted)

 

2. Probus - Siscia Adventvs E1 Pegasus

Okay so technically I bought this last year in the last three days, but it didn’t arrive until this year so it counts.

This is a very special die for Probus and in my opinion one of the best engraved ones for him. Featuring a bold portrait of Probus in a pseudo-corinthian helmet holding a shield and spear it is engraved in a style that is better than most. The shield is actually a noteworthy engraving detail and it features a pegasus moving to the right. This obverse die actually appears on both XXI and KA issues of the ADVENTVS PROBI AVG reverse and I was lucky enough to find the KA version at auction. This coin is a specific die that is desired by Probus collectors due to its style and rarity. Through my research I am only aware of 11 coins total featuring this obverse die.

OBVERSE: VIRTVS PROBI AVG
REVERSE: ADVENTVS PROBI AVG

BUST TYPE: E1 = Radiate, cuirassed and helmeted bust left, hodling spear and shield (decorated with Pegasus)
FIELD / EXERGUE MARKS: -/-//KA

WEIGHT 3.9 g / Axis: 6h / DIAMETER: 23 mm

RIC 634 (RIC does not mention any shield decorations)
ALFOLDI 009 / (UNLISTED!)

 

1. Probus - Siscia Deo Et Domino

Written about here about the importance of this discovery and coin. 

OBVERSE: DEO ET DOMINO PROBO AVG
REVERSE: VIRTVS PROBI AVG
BUST TYPE: H
FIELD / EXERGUE MARKS: -/-//XXIVII

 

WEIGHT 3.4g / AXIS: 12h / DIAMETER: 23mm

 

Alfoldi 097/(Unlisted with this obverse legend)

2nd known example of DEO ET DOMINO for Siscia

[expat]

All nice coins. A good year of collecting for your sub collection. Number 8 is my fav. Thanks for sharing

[Al Kowsky]

Humilau, You made some attractive additions this year 🤩! Looks like you're a serious Probus collector ☺️. My favorite has to be #5 😍.

[Roman Collector]

Cool coins and some rare and interesting varieties! I was torn between #8 and #5. 

[DonnaML]

Some great Probi! (If that's the correct plural.) My favorite was No. 5 -- I really love the reddish-brown patina, and the sharp definition in the devices.

[happy_collector]

Nice additions, @Humilau. My favorite is #5. The horseman battle scene is particularly nice, with great patina.  🙂

[Humilau]

48 minutes ago, DonnaML said:

Some great Probi! (If that's the correct plural.) My favorite was No. 5 -- I really love the reddish-brown patina, and the sharp definition in the devices.

It was a great addition to the collection. Helps to show the transfer of mint workers from Serdica to Siscia. Haven't found another example yet, but maybe one will randomly appear at nyinc. However, I'll be on the war path there though for the KA types if any are to be found anywhere though anything Siscia I'll definitely be searching.

[Humilau]

2 hours ago, Al Kowsky said:

Humilau, You made some attractive additions this year 🤩! Looks like you're a serious Probus collector ☺️. My favorite has to be #5 😍.

Love myself some Probus from Siscia. So many unique types to add this year. #5 has a great style to it and like some of the other types, such as the Deo et Domino, they are so rare that they are not in reference literature.

[David Atherton]

A tightly focused list with some neat write-ups. Hard to argue with your #1!

[panzerman]

I second David's words! Could not have said it better.

 

 

John

[Humilau]

2 hours ago, David Atherton said:

A tightly focused list with some neat write-ups. Hard to argue with your #1!

I wish I could expand on many of these write-ups, but many I would reveal too much in-progress research if I wrote longer! Eventually I'll be able to include my datatables and charts, but those stay hidden for now haha!

 

The DEO ET DOMINO really is the crown of the Siscia collection, even though it is not a KA type. I don't believe there could be a type to dethrone it in my collection even if it were to get the KA Fides Militvm or one of the extremely rare busts from the mint. 

Edited January 3 by Humilau

[lordmarcovan]

Quote

9. Probus - Siscia Secvrit Perp

That's the one for me!  I just like the look of it.

Quote

6. Probus - Siscia E1 Double Adventus 

Also very handsome.

Edited January 3 by lordmarcovan

[Qcumbor]

From a visual point of view, my vote will go to #5 for its tremendous reverse scene.
I like that specialized approach to a collection

Q