PROBUS AD 276-282 AE Antoninianus. 3.38g, 21.8mm

MINTED: Rome mint, 6th officina, AD 276-282 REF: RIC 181; Cohen 493

OBVERSE: PROBVS P F AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right. REVERSE: PROVIDENTIA AVG, Providentia standing left, globe in right hand, scepter in left; RTS in exergue.

Grade/Notes:

Fine. Thick red concretions and green deposits obscuring much of obverse.

Historical Notes:

Born in Sirmium (present-day Sremska Mitrovica in Serbia), Probus was a career soldier who rose to become the 47th Emperor of the Roman Empire.  He spent much of his 6-year reign putting down usurpers and campaigning against the Goths, Alamanni, Vandals and other Germanic tribes.  He successfully strengthened the Empire against its enemies, but was murdered in 282 by some of his own soldiers who were unhappy at being given the menial task of draining marshes.