Antoninianus - Probus Imperial mantle, left, sceptre surmounted by eagle; PROVIDENT AVG; Providentia

Features

Issuer	Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD)
Emperor	Probus (Marcus Aurelius Probus) (276-282)
Type	Standard circulation coins
Year	278
Value	Antoninianus (1)
Currency	Antoninianus, Reform of Caracalla (AD 215 – 301)
Composition	Silver
Shape	Round (irregular)
Technique	Hammered
Orientation	Variable alignment ↺
Demonetized	Yes
Number	N# 293518
References	RIC V.2# 397b Percy H. Webb, Harold Mattingly, Edward Allen Sydenham; 1933. The Roman Imperial Coinage / Volume 5.2. Marcus Aurelius Probus – Maximian (AD 276–310). Spink & Son, London, United Kingdom. , OCRE# ric.5.pro.397 Online Coins of the Roman Empire (http://numismatics.org/ocre/)

Obverse

Bust of Probus, radiate, wearing imperial mantle, left, holding sceptre surmounted by eagle in right hand.

Script: Latin

Lettering: IMP C PROBVS P F AVG

Unabridged legend: Imperator Caesar Probus Pius Felix Augustus.

Translation: Supreme commander, Caesar Probus, the pious, the fortunate, emperor.

Reverse

Providentia, draped, standing left, holding globe in right hand and sceptre in left hand.
Officina followed by value mark (XX) and mintmark in exergue.

Script: Latin

Lettering: PROVIDENT AVG

Unabridged legend: Providentia Augusti.

Translation: Foresight of the emperor (Augustus).

Mint

T	Ticinum, modern-day Pavia, Italy

Comments

RIC 397 was minted by the 2nd officina (exergue-/officina mark: SXXT) of the Ticinum mint (SXXT). The XX stands for 20 parts alloy (instead of the more usual XXI for a copper to silver ratio of 20:1). The original RIC text mentions 3 different variations/different bust types (bust types according to Pierre Bastiens grouping of bust types; see illustrated: probvs.net) and one variant is known:

Radiate, cuirassed, right (B bust, example probuscoins #1111, Numista #292745);
Wearing imperial mantle, left, holding sceptre surmounted by eagle in right hand (bust H2, example probuscoins #285, Numista #293518);
Radiate, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand (F5 bust, no example on probuscoins, Numista #293519).
[var] Radiate, cuirassed, right, holding spear in right hand (F9 bust, example probuscoins #4806, not in Numista).

According to Pink, RIC 397 - with its obverse lettering nr. 5 ('IMP C PROBVS P F AVG') combined with 'PROVIDENT AVG' and exergue mark 'SXXT' - is part of the 4th emission (sub B) which was minted in the year 278. See Karl Pink, Der Aufbau der römischen Münzprägung in der Kaiserzeit VI/I, Wien, 1949, p. 63.

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Date					VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC
Undetermined
ND (278)												2nd Officina (SXXT)

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