Antoninianus of Probus (AD 276–282), struck at the mint of Antioch, belonging to issues produced during the period of restoration and consolidation of the Roman Empire following the Crisis of the Third Century. The coinage of Probus continues the ideological program initiated under Aurelian, emphasizing the emperor’s role as a restorer of imperial order.
The obverse features a right-facing bust of the emperor wearing a radiate crown, cuirass, and cloak, with the legend IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG, giving his full titulature as Marcus Aurelius Probus Pius Felix Augustus.
The reverse presents a highly symbolic scene: a female figure (personification of the Orbis Terrarum) standing right, offering a wreath to the emperor, who holds a globe and spear; the mark Z appears between them, with XXI in the exergue. The accompanying legend is RESTITVT ORBIS. This composition symbolizes the restoration of order and unity of the Roman world under the emperor’s rule.
This type directly reflects the ideology of imperial restoration after a period of fragmentation and instability, highlighting Probus as a continuator of the restorative policies of his predecessors. The legend RESTITVT ORBIS (“restorer of the world”) belongs to one of the most important strands of 3rd-century imperial propaganda, presenting the emperor as the guarantor of stability and unity of the state.
Plenty of mint bloom.
Roman Imperial
Probus (276–282), Antoninianus 276-282, Antioch mint
Obverse: radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG
Reverse: female figure, draped, standing right, presenting wreath to Probus, standing left, holding globe in right hand and sceptre in left hand, Δ between figures, XXI in exergue
RESTITVT ORBIS
Diameter 22 mm, weight 4.80 g
