Probus - Lugdunum - Salvs Avg

30 Luglio, 2023

Please forgive my post in English. My Italian is poor.

One of the reverse types made by Probus from the 9th Issue at Lugdunum (January to August A.D. 282 - Bastien dating) is SALVS AVG, Salus standing left, feeding serpent rising from altar, holding patera and sceptre. These were made in the Second officina, which used the officina mark "B" in this issue, whiuch had been "II" in previous issues.

The type is quite common but there are some scarcer variations which used "retrograde B" instead.

The type is attributed to RIC 124 when combined with obverse legend "IMP C PROBVS • P • F • AVG" and to RIC 123 when combined with obverse legend "IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG" and RIC 122 when combined with obverse legend "IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG".

RIC 122 appears to be quite difficult to obtain. RIC 123 is generally quite easy to obtain with Bust Type C (from rear) with the normal B officina mark. RIC 124 is generally quite easy to obtain with Bust Type F and Bust Type C (from front) with the normal B officina mark. Examples with Retrograde B are much more difficult to obtain.

Here are some of my existing examples and my new addition (with Retrograde B)....

RIC 124

Obv:– IMP C PROBVS • P • F • AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– SALVS AVG, Salus standing left, feeding serpent rising from altar, holding patera and sceptre
Minted in Lugdunum (B in right field) Emission 9, Officina 2. January to August A.D. 282
Reference:– Bastien 394. RIC 124 Bust type F.

Obv:– IMP C PROBVS • P • F • AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from front
Rev:– SALVS AVG, Salus standing left, feeding serpent rising from altar, holding patera and sceptre
Minted in Lugdunum (B in right field) Emission 9, Officina 2. January to August A.D. 282
Reference:– Cohen - . Bastien 393. RIC 124 Bust type C.

RIC 123

Obv:– IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear
Rev:– SALVS AVG, Salus standing left, feeding serpent rising from altar, holding patera and sceptre
Minted in Lugdunum (B in right field) Emission 9, Officina 2. January to August A.D. 282
Reference:– Cohen 567. Bastien 392. RIC 123 Bust type C.

And finally my newest addition... This one was buried in a whole stack of slabbed coins and was not identified as being anything of interest.

Obv:– IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear
Rev:– SALVS AVG, Salus standing left, feeding serpent rising from altar, holding patera and sceptre
Minted in Lugdunum (Retrograde B in right field) Emission 9, Officina 2. January to August A.D. 282
Reference:– Cohen 567. Bastien -. Bastien Supplement I -. Bastien Supplement II -. RIC 123 Bust type C var (not listed with Retrograde B in right field). The Gloucester hoard contains a single example and there is an example in the Christophe Oliva collection.