Probus Cyzicus VIRTVS PROBI AVG
Obverse: IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG
Reverse: VIRTVS PROBI AVG
Emission: 5
Officina: 4
Bust type: E1 = Radiate, cuirassed and helmeted bust left, holding spear and shield (decorated with Medusa)
**Exergue marks:**Q // XXIMC
Literature: RIC 913var (RIC incorrectly cites Cohen 918 (consular bust) instead of Cohen 919 (helmeted, with shield and spear)
Rarity: R2
Note: A very rare and sought-after reverse type featuring the emperor on horseback attacking a kneeling enemy with a spear (VIR-1 in Gysen's classification). This is by far the rarest and most interesting reverse type among the few reverses minted at Cyzicus during the reign of Probus (although the same reverse type is common in Serdica). This is only the third known example of this type from Officina "Q" (but only the second example with Medusa on the shield; the other two examples either have no decorated shield or depict a rider on it).
Ref: 14.09.2018 Paul Francis Jacquier Auction 45 lot 1735 = Philippe Gysen collection ; ex.coll. B.Skibniewski
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