Probus Antoninianus RIC V Probus 349

Monetary and Historical Context

The antoninianus designated as RIC V Probus 349 was minted during the reign of Marcus Aurelius Probus between AD 276 and AD 282. During this period, the Roman monetary system still operated under the framework established by Aurelian's currency reform of AD 274. Aurelian had attempted to stabilize the severely debased double denarius, establishing a standard alloy of approximately twenty parts copper to one part silver (a silver fineness of about 4 to 5 percent). Although minted with a predominantly bronze or potin core, these pieces were coated with a thin silver wash before entering circulation to maintain the visual illusion of a precious metal currency. The denomination is often referred to as the aurelianianus in modern numismatic literature. Probus maintained this standard throughout his reign, issuing massive quantities of billon radiates to finance extensive frontier campaigns along the Rhine, Danube, and eastern frontiers, as well as to reward and retain the loyalty of the army.

Production and Mint Organization

RIC V Probus 349 was produced entirely at the mint of Ticinum (modern Pavia, Italy), which had been established under Aurelian when the operations of the Mediolanum (Milan) mint were relocated circa AD 274 to AD 275. Under Probus, Ticinum functioned as a primary mint for northern Italy and central Europe, operating with multiple officinae (workshops) typically identified by Latin letters in the reverse exergue (such as P, S, T, or Q for prima, secunda, tertia, and quarta). The mint was distinguished by its high artistic caliber, deeply engraved dies, and meticulous execution of portraiture and armor details. Blanks were prepared in cast strips or flan moulds, hot struck between iron or bronze dies, and chemically treated through surface pickling or dipping to deplete base metals and enrich the silver surface before distribution.

Obverse Iconography and Variations

The obverse of RIC V Probus 349 demonstrates the remarkable portrait diversity that characterizes Ticinum's die cutters under Probus. The emperor is consistently shown wearing the radiate crown, the classic indicator of the double-denarius denomination. However, several distinct bust varieties are cataloged within this single type: a standard radiate bust turned right, either draped or cuirassed; a left-facing bust in consular attire, holding an eagle-tipped sceptre (scipio) in his right hand; and a left-facing military bust in cuirass, occasionally clutching a spear or shield. The consular presentation honors the emperor's recurring consulships during his six-year reign, while the armed variations project an image of active military guardianship, vigilance, and aggressive defense of Roman territories.

Reverse Iconography

The reverse of RIC V Probus 349 features the solar god Sol Invictus standing facing, with his head turned left. His right hand is raised in an open gesture of divine blessing or celestial salute, while his left hand holds a globe, symbolizing cosmic dominance and world order (orbis terrarum). Sol is depicted radiate, with drapery or chlamys cast over his shoulder or billowing behind him. This iconic image celebrates Sol as Conservator Augusti, the personal guardian and protector of the emperor. The solar cult enjoyed supreme prominence from Aurelian onward, framing the emperor as the terrestrial lieutenant of the invincible sun god, an association designed to legitimize Probus's authority across provincial and military spheres.

Inscriptions and Epigraphy

The obverse inscription reads uniformly as IMP C PROBVS P F AVG, representing an abbreviation of the Latin formula Imperator Caesar Probus Pius Felix Augustus. The epigraphy of Ticinum is generally neat, compact, and regular, with cleanly formed serifed lettering. The reverse carries the protective legend CONSERVA AVG, or its variant spelling CONSERVAT AVG, representing Conservatori Augusti or Conservator Augusti (to the preserver/protector of the Augustus). In the exergue, workshop letters such as P, S, T, or Q appear, occasionally accompanied by the XXI or mintmark signifiers typical of late third-century reformed radiates, explicitly marking the administrative workshop responsible for die production and bullion standards.

Typology and Chronology

Within Karl Pink's foundational chronological arrangement of the coinage of Probus, the issues of Ticinum are organized into successive emissions demarcated by stylistic evolution, titular progression, and exergual system marks. RIC V Probus 349 belongs to the mid-reign issues of Ticinum, circa AD 277 to AD 280, when Sol imagery featured prominently in parallel with issues dedicated to Virtus Augusti and Securitas Orbis. The coexistence of standard right-facing busts with elaborate consular and left-facing busts reflects specific donative or ceremonial occasions, such as Probus's assumption of successive consulships (such as his second consulship in AD 278, third in AD 279, and fourth in AD 281). The type is strictly differentiated in modern cataloging from neighboring reverse designs depicting Sol in a quadriga or accompanied by captives.

Circulation and Hoard Evidence

Antoniniani of Probus from Ticinum circulated extensively across the western and Danubian provinces of the Roman Empire. Specimens of RIC V Probus 349 are regularly recorded in major European hoards containing late third-century billon radiates, such as the Venera hoard in Italy, the Gloucester hoard in Britain, and numerous deposits throughout the Gallic and Balkan frontiers. Because the reformed antoniniani possessed very little intrinsic silver, they rarely experienced aggressive hoarding of precious metal alone; rather, they circulated as fiduciary change in massive quantities alongside earlier billon issues of Claudius Gothicus, Aurelian, and Tacitus. By the time of Diocletian's currency overhaul in AD 294 to AD 296, radiates of this series had largely worn away their delicate surface silvering, continuing to serve as small change until fully recalled or demonetized.

References

1. Ripostiglio della Venèra: Nuovo Catalogo Illustrato, Vol. II/2: Probo - Carino. pp. 55-120
2. Online Coins of the Roman Empire: RIC V Probus 349. ric.5.pro.349
3. Der Aufbau der römischen Münzprägung in der Kaiserzeit: VI/1. Probus. Numismatische Zeitschrift 73, pp. 13-74
4. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Volume V, Part II. p. 48, no. 349