Marcus Aurelius Probus Rome Mint, 279 ADSILVER PLATED Ancient Roman Coin

Pricing & History

Sold for
Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
Sold Date
Source eBay

PROBUS ANTONINIANUS Marcus Aurelius Probus, 276-282 AD Probus AE Antoninianus. Rome Mint, 279 AD. IMP PROBVS AVG, radiate cuirassed bust right / ADVENTVS AVG, emperor on horseback left, raising right hand & holding a sceptre in the left, treading down a captive seated on ground to left. Mintmark R star Z. WEIGHT:2.93gDIAMETER:22-23mm All coins are 100% authentic Marcus Aurelius Equitius Probus (AD 232 - AD 282) Marcus Aurelius Equitius Probus was born at Sirmium on 19 August AD 232.His family origins are unclear. According to various accounts his father was either a market-gardener, a minor state official, or a soldier.Probus' early military career is largely unknown. He most likely rose through the ranks, achieving considerable skill in commanding troops. Under Aurelian he was said to be the emperor's most outstanding commander. During that time, he defended the embattled Rhine frontier against the Alemanni.Under Aurelian's successor Tacitus he then took up a high command in Syria and Egypt. He possibly even held the overall military command of the eastern provinces.When Tacitus had died in AD 276, Probus refused to accept Florian's claim to the imperial throne. Far more, he claimed he was the man to whom Tacitus had promised the succession.Considering Probus' high standing among the army it is a possibility. But considering Tacitus' evident plans of establishing a dynasty, it does indeed seem doubtful that he would have nominated Probus to succeed him.Florian controlled the far larger army and marched on him. Their forces met near Tarsus. But at this point Probus' excellent military ability won through. He avoided a direct confrontation and used the stifling summer heat of the Middle East, to which Florian's European troops weren't accustomed, to his advantage.Suffering from heat stroke and fearing disaster, Florian's men revolted and killed their leader, transferring their allegiance to Probus.Probus then set out for Rome, where the senate confirmed him as emperor. And in turn the new emperor was careful to show great respect toward the senate. Under the new emperor's regime the surviving murderers of Aurelian were executed.Next Probus needed to address the situation along Rome's frontiers. After the death of Aurelian, a series of attacks had taken place. Tacitus and Florian had largely dealt with the Gothic attack on Asia Minor (Turkey), but the German invasion across the Rhine had so far not been dealt with.For the next two years Probus would be on campaign against the Germans. The Franks, the Longiones, the Burgundians and the Vandals were all defeated, despite their huge numbers.At one point he even captured the leader of the Longiones, called Semnon. Although he let him return to his homeland with his surviving people once conditions had been agreed.The campaigns were so successful, at one occasion sixteen German chiefs are said to have knelt at Probus' feet. Hostages were taken to assure they remained peaceful and no less than sixteen thousand Germans were recruited into the Roman army.In AD 278 Probus defeated yet another invasion by the Vandals.In AD 279 the emperor set out for the east to deal with troubles having arisen there. The Moorish governor of Syria, Julius Saturninus, had declared himself emperor. On the way he repelled an invasion by the tribe of the Getae, who had crossed the lower Danube. Meanwhile the usurper Saturninus was killed either by his own soldiers or by assassins sent by the emperor. With his challenger dead, Probus next moved against brigands who fiercely defended themselves against the siege to their mountain fortress of Cremna in Isauria, but eventually were defeated.Apart from the revolt of Saturninus, Probus' main reason for travelling east was a desire to reconquer Mesopotamia. But once on the scene he deemed it unwise to begin a war with the Persians and instead came to a truce with Persian King Bahram II whereby both sides reassured each other of holding the peace (AD 279).It mig... read more

Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.

Flag item for content or copyright

If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review.

If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.